• Mindful Petals
  • Posts
  • Can Hope Triumph Over Mindfulness? New Research Suggests It Might

Can Hope Triumph Over Mindfulness? New Research Suggests It Might

Author

MIndful Petals
September 16, 2024

Mindfulness has long been a popular strategy for boosting mental health, with a focus on staying grounded in the present. But a recent study from North Carolina State University presents a surprising twist: hopefulness, especially in difficult times, might be a more powerful tool for resilience than mindfulness. Led by Kristin Scott and her team, the research explored how hope and mindfulness stack up during high-stress situations, particularly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on work-related stress and resilience.

The Study
The research followed 247 participants, all facing pandemic-related work pressures. Using a detailed statistical model, the team examined how mindfulness and hope impacted resilience, engagement, and overall mental well-being. Published in Stress and Health in August 2024, the study found that hope, with its future-focused mindset, was more effective in helping people bounce back from adversity than mindfulness, which focuses on staying in the present.

Hope vs. Mindfulness: What’s the Difference?
Mindfulness is about being fully present, focusing on the current moment without judgment. It’s often used as a tool for reducing stress by encouraging acceptance of your feelings and situation.

Hopefulness, on the other hand, is about looking forward, believing things will get better. It’s not about ignoring challenges but about staying optimistic and motivated through them.

Key Findings

Hope and Happiness Go Hand in Hand
One of the standout findings was how closely hopefulness is linked to happiness. Researchers noted that hope had a direct correlation with higher levels of happiness, while mindfulness didn’t show the same effect. People with hope not only felt happier but also stayed more engaged in their work and experienced less stress.

As Scott put it, “Our findings show that hope made people happier, while mindfulness didn’t have the same impact.”

Hope Builds Resilience Better Than Mindfulness
When it comes to bouncing back from stress, the study found hope to be more effective than mindfulness. While mindfulness encourages acceptance, hope fuels action. It pushes people to visualize better days ahead and work toward those goals, even in the face of challenges. This future-focused mindset fosters motivation and creativity, helping people come up with new ways to overcome obstacles.

“Hope allows people to break out of cycles of despair and focus on their goals, especially during tough times,” said senior author Thomas Zagenczyk.

Hope Activates Metacognition
A unique aspect of hope is its connection to metacognition — thinking about your own thinking. This cognitive process helps people reflect on their thoughts and adjust their behaviors to improve their situation. In contrast, mindfulness encourages passive observation, which can sometimes limit a person’s ability to actively change their circumstances.

The researchers found that metacognitive thinking helped hopeful individuals stay on track toward their goals, even when things were tough.

Mindfulness: Where It Works Best
Although the study highlights the power of hope in difficult times, mindfulness still has its strengths. It’s especially effective in lower-stress situations where staying calm and present is key. During mild stress, mindfulness helps people avoid becoming overwhelmed by their emotions.

But when stress levels are high, mindfulness can sometimes fall short. Focusing too much on the present moment may prevent people from actively seeking solutions to their problems, leaving them feeling stuck.

“There’s been a lot of talk about the benefits of mindfulness, but it has its challenges when you’re stressed. First, it’s tough to be mindful during stressful times. Second, if you’re going through something really hard, you don’t want to dwell on it too much,” noted Zagenczyk.

Finding Balance: Using Hope and Mindfulness Together
While hope might outperform mindfulness in tough times, that doesn’t mean mindfulness should be ignored altogether. The study suggests balancing both approaches. On low-stress days, practicing mindfulness can help maintain calm and presence. But when facing major challenges, shifting to a hopeful, goal-driven mindset could offer more relief.

Practical Takeaways

  • For everyday stress: Use mindfulness to stay grounded and reduce anxiety.

  • For long-term challenges: Cultivate hope by setting goals and visualizing a better future.
    Mindfulness and hopefulness don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Together, they provide a versatile toolkit for handling stress — whether it’s daily worries or larger life challenges.


This new research sheds light on the dynamic relationship between hopefulness and mindfulness, offering fresh insights into how we build resilience during hard times. While mindfulness is great for staying calm and aware, hope provides the drive to push forward and overcome adversity. So, when life feels overwhelming, it’s not just about staying in the moment — sometimes, you need to look ahead and hold onto hope.

Related Articles