It’s awful to feel hopeless about your ability to do something. It could be getting out of bad, debt or even completing a small task. Hopelessness means mentally locked.
Fortunately, no matter how unpleasant things seem, there are certain things you can do when you feel hopeless to make your life better. Let’s dive into details!
Why does hope matter?
Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. — Desmon d Tutu
It feels counterproductive, but in reality, only hope reduces stress, improves the quality of life, and a bad feeling of helplessness.
I believe that we need hope to help us get through the most challenging times in life and boost our spirits to face our problems more pragmatically.
Hope is a positive mindset toward life that maintains our faith. When you’re caught in a dire circumstance with no influence over the result, the only thing that keeps you going is hope.
We need hope because it reminds us that there is still the potential for a better future. For others, it serves as a source of inspiration; for me, it’s like moving ahead in life.
Having hope helps alleviate tension and overcome restlessness to focus on the prospective outcomes. My grandmother used to say that hope works like a miracle, but you have o trust the process and keep working.
Symptoms of hopelessness
When someone feels trapped in a position or when the result of an event is beyond their control, they may show signs of despair. In that situation, people frequently feel as though they are trapped in a deep, dark pit from which it is nearly difficult to get out. This causes them to show particular symptoms of hopelessness. Here are some frequent signs of hopelessness:
- People who have a sense of despair will lose interest in routine everyday activities they previously enjoyed.
- Having difficulty getting out of bed, missing meals, not taking baths on a regular basis, etc
- Another prevalent characteristic of misery is isolation. People who are depressed tend to isolate themselves, such as friends or relatives.
- Hopeless people often feel helpless. They frequently show little control over any other aspects of their life.
- I saw a couple of friends who used to be really healthy but once in life, they got depressed and put on weight. That’s also a symptom of hopelessness where people start eating junk and gain weight. That can cause to increase in the stress level.
- There is also a possibility that suicidal inclinations can be seen in certain severe circumstances.
Optimistic sources
We need reminders to keep us optimistic about the future. Fortunately, there are other methods to feel motivated, such as recognizing our modest victories along the path and recalling occasions when we overcame hurdles.
I observed good books are a great source of inspiration. Sometimes I watch movies if I feel low in life. I also suggest going for a long walk to boost your motivation.
I love to play with pets, hit the gym, walk, run, hike, or whatever helped you in the past. All you need is a trigger to move.
Note: Please do not Google; it’s like a black hole and can go either way.
Meaningful relationships are the key
Meaningful friendships and relationships may require more upkeep to thrive, but you may feel even more connected to the people you value the most with work.
I highly recommend meeting people in person; I know we love Zoom calls but going to a bar or hiking with friends and/or family is the next level of relationship.
If you are feeling hopeless, the part is to reach out to your mom and siblings and have a chat, laugh, share something about what you did over the weekend, etc.
There is a possibility that your sibling might be facing the same situation; after all, they are human like you.
Unrealistic expectations
Another reason you may lose motivation and feel hopeless is that you may have unrealistic expectations.
Our worst disappointments are sometimes the result of having unreasonable expectations. Unrealistic doesn’t mean you can achieve your goals.
For example, Elon Musk once said that try to accomplish the goals, and put in 100 hours each week; in this case, if someone is doing 40 hours, you will be way ahead of them. But I guess the motivation is not there all the time.
For example, when I started to write on Medium, my goal was to share 1–3 articles per week and hit a goal of $2000 per month in December. I am happy to say that I just fell in love with this Medium writing process and achieved my $2000 in merely 3 months. Now I have increased the goal, but it’s not like next month, making $10000. I know many writers are making $10k+, but I am not there yet, and I also have a full-time job plus a couple of other side hustles. I am happy to follow the process.
I highly suggest setting specific goals that feel doable, especially early on. Setting reasonable and achievable goals can motivate you to keep going.
Stay focused on the present moment
You should enjoy the present moment because this is all you have. Create for tomorrow, but live in and for today. — Robert Anthony
Hope has a future direction and can divert our attention away from the present. You mustn’t spend too much time preparing for the future since this might lead to hopelessness.
Even though we desire things to improve, we must accept where we are in our life right now. Do not compare your first day with someone’s 100. Progress occurs one step at a time.
The bottom line
When you are feeling hopeless, hug your child. It’s amazing how they remind us our life is always full of love. — Unknown
When a lousy situation never seems to get better, when each new loss comes right after the previous, it’s tempting to give up and think that’s it! I cannot do anything. But guess what? There is “hope.”
Nobody can predict the future, be happy, and enjoy every tiny slice of life.
Thank you for reading; follow me and clap a couple of times.
