Catalysts of Hopelessness

We all suffer from hopelessness.  Those what’s the point, who really cares, whatever I do won’t matter thoughts can drag you into an Eeyore existence without notice.  One moment, you are making plans and whistling a tune, then, bam, the next moment, you are moping around.

This emotional roller coaster of life begins the moment we enter this world.  Although those with chronic illness have a slew of additional weights (pain, limitation, physical and emotional distress).  If we are not careful to watch what words are floating around in our minds, we can lose hope.  What happens in those moments when we move from hopeful to hopeless?

Recognizing the catalysts of hopelessness could help to alleviate the depression, and maybe, we will move quickly from hopelessness to hopeful.

1. Some People Are Hope Killers

   You know who they are.  These spewers of hateful messages.  They love to find fault in you and the world  Underlying their crushing message is the motive to oppress you.  Their desire is to keep you contained, controlled, and powerless.  If you can’t avoid them, restrict their influence on you.  Refuse to believe what they say.  Toss their garbage out.

2. Feelings of Alienation

   Do you feel disconnected, alone, unwanted?  Maybe you are struggling with feeling unworthy of love, care, and support.  These emotions can drive you to withdraw which, in turn, will exacerbate the situation even further.

3. Having No Goals

   Having a purpose-driven life can keep you from falling into the trap of feeling afloat. Every person has abilities. Often, the tendency to compare one set of unique attributes with another person’s can lead to feelings of inadequacy. Honestly, every person can be a gift to someone else. If you set out every day to encourage, love, and help others, you will find hope. For in the process of reaching others, you are giving them hope. And, hope is contagious. You will catch some for yourself along the way.

4. Feeling Restricted

   When we feel incapable or unable, we focus on all that we cannot do. This is especially the case for those with limited opportunities due to poverty, learning disabilities, and physical handicaps.  You cannot change many things about your life, but you can change your mindset.  Rather than focus on what you cannot do, focus on what you can do.  And, you will find, you can do a lot.

5. Feeling Trapped

   This overwhelming sense of doom is one of the strongest drivers to feeling hopeless. If you find yourself facing serious financial problems, life-threatening illness, or chronic illness or pain, hopelessness can settle in for the long term.

The complexities of mind-spirit-body dynamics are often ignored.  We are driven by our beliefs, thoughts, and emotions. Our desire to control our lives can be so strong that we harm ourselves. We hold our opinions too strongly. Our grip on our reality refuses to consider other possibilities. Examining your thoughts and replacing negative conclusions with positive attitudes can be one of the most productive habits you adopt.

Our mind is very powerful, and we ignore the talents of our spirit.  Every thing that you can see, touch, smell, feel is temporary.  Your spirit is waiting to respond to your command.  Let yourself move beyond the physical world.  Take the opportunity to adjust to your new reality.  Don’t cope, hope.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  (2 Cor. 4:16)

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