Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. Helen Keller
How can you hold tight to that feeling of hope when you are overwhelmed?
Are hope and faith for the future the basis for your personal happiness?
Feeling like there is no hope is one of the most challenging emotions to manage.
After all, why would you even try when you feel there is no hope?
Finding hope when it seems like there’s none to be found can be tricky, but it is possible.
The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof. Barbara Kingsolver
All of us have challenges at times, and we all have moments when there doesn’t appear to be a way out. It is there though, we just need the courage and faith to walk through our wilderness and find our meadow.
When you are feeling in a low funk, try these strategies to raise your vibes:
- Consider all the amazing things you’ve done in your life. Regardless of what you’re facing, remember your earlier miracles and know you’re entirely capable of working through it. For humans, the seemingly impossible is, in fact, possible. Learn to change your mindset and that will allow you to see all those amazing things.
- Surround yourself with optimism. You’ve come across people who persistently see the bright side of things. They will always see the sunny side of every situation. They will always have a smile and a positive attitude. Find a group of those people and soak up the positive emotions from them.
- Allow inspiration in. Your faith could be a great source of inspiration. Reading books and listening to music that is up-lifting can create positive vibes. 10 Inspiration success resources worth checking out.
- Spend time in nature. For many, nature’s bounty is awe-inspiring, from flowers and waterfalls to butterflies and spider webs. When you see what’s possible, you realize that you’re capable of remarkable things too.
- Be courageous. Cultivating hope requires courage to take that first step forward. Give yourself the chance to find your way through your challenges. Take that first step and then the next. You will soon be on the other side and ready to tackle your next challenge.
If you really want to find hope in your life, you can, it’s always there! You just have to want to find it. You have to look to find the sweeter side of life.
Although your search for hope might take some work, never give up. Just keep working through it and you’ll discover that you have plenty of reasons to be hopeful.
Featured photo credit: silhouette in a communication tunnel via Shutterstock
I was intrigued by your article, but don’t fully agree with some things. I agree with the ideology, but with no offense to the author, I question the practicality of your ideas being implemented in many peoples lives who may not be in a position to follow.
What if you haven’t got anything “amazing” in your life? Not everybody has achieved anything “amazing”! Some people only achievement is mere survival! And that should be a right, not a goal! Very few people achieve anything that is truly amazing!
Over optimistic people are sometime worse than depressed. Thinking everything is great when in reality it is not, only makes for smaller satisfaction, or a larger fall.
Inspiration is good, providing it remains firmly planted on the ground. Reach for the clouds, but don’t live there!
Relaxing in nature may be a wonderful idea, but again reality for many is that the closest thing to nature is a fake plant in a plastic pot. Can always go out, listen to the noise, and smell the fumes.
Courage, is something that depression builds in many. Sometimes it takes tremendous courage just to continue.
Hope, is nice, but doesn’t pay the bills, or keep food on the table etc. The sweeter side of life is achievable with money, so basically the “hope” that people seek, is really “money!” Unfortunate reality!
Giving up ? That achieves nothing, and nobody wants nothing! Giving up is basically the end.
So the answer to many is : “just battle on regardless”!
:) no offense taken at all, I love reading other peoples opinions. I can definitely say from personal experience that I practice all the items in the list.
But it is definitely true that not everyone has the same experience as I have, but it is also true that I have not gone into all the “reality” that I have had to live through myself. But I am very confident in saying, that in north america even though there is much hardship for many people we all have the opportunities to pull ourselves out it our situations.
There are times we do “just battle on regardless”, but all have the opportunity to strive for more.
Good point, Dazza…
But consider that this may just be a matter of perspective.
I would say that someone who has had a ton of challenges in their life and has chosen to “battle on” really does have something amazing to be proud of.
While you or I can’t comprehend just quitting, many people do. It sounds to me like the type of person you’re describing in your comment is a strong person with a lot of fortitude. That covers “amazing”, “optimistic” and “courageous” in my book – even if that person may not see it in themselves.
I don’t think Lori was outright promoting a “Rainbows and Unicorns” mentality really. Just ways to re-set when things get tough.
I do very much agree with your cautions about being blindly optimistic and living in the clouds. Kind of a pet peeve of mine as well.
A good post & an interesting discussion!
Yes… I agree with both the comments about blind optimism. We still need to as Dazza said, get food on the table and roof over our heads.
totally all about prospective!
Hi Lori,
Three years ago I would have agreed with this because I believed that I had been through depression at certain points in my life, such as when my marriage broke up.
But then I had a family member suffer clinical depression. This person knew that she had done lots of amazing things in her life, that she was surrounded by a family and friends who loved her. She was extremely courageous in trying all she could to fix the problem, but she was in a black hole.
I’ll admit to feeling a little ‘annoyed’ with her for not getting ‘over it’, I did not understand, that is why I am writing this.
I now understand that there was nothing that she nor our family could do. Clinical depression needs intervention by a professional. This worked and may have saved her life.
I now know that there is a difference between depression and getting over the blues.
These are great strategies for getting over the blues, but if they do not work please do not feel bad, seek help from a doctor.
definitely, this is NOT about clinical depression, it is only about the occasional lows that we all go through in life and how to find your way out of that.
Anytime I need a little boost in hope or inspiration I turn to one of my many books. Wayne Dyer, Louise L Hay, Mike Dooley…. I absolutely LOVE “Sponteneous Fulfillment Of Desire” by Deepak Chopra. I think I will read this one again. Thank you Lori
that is prefect, I love those books as well and many more. It is great to have so many options for great books
Are you kidding me??? As someone who suffered from clinical depression for over 20 years and has worked INCREDIBLY HARD to get healthy, this article is insulting. There’s nothing “wrong” with any of these suggestions. As a matter of fact, if someone just has the “blues”, these tips can work well. But for someone who’s “really depressed”, even getting out of bed and getting dressed can be extremely challenging. Articles like these are insulting to people who suffer and often feel tremendous shame and guilt as a result. This article should be titled, “how to bring yourself out of a funk.” Real depression is a reality that is MUCH more difficult to overcome than these tips would imply.
Definitely and no insult was intended. Clinical Depression is much more serious and should be treated that way.
you are correct itt is about the occasional funk or feelings of blue while going through a experience that is keeping you done low.
Well said. I assume the article and title are just linkbait but even for someone suffering from mild depression this article is potentially very damaging indeed.
Hello Lori,
I like your points. I especially like the last one -
be courageous. I find that this one combined with the 4 previous ones
make all the difference:)
When I’m feeling in a low funk… what most does the trick is consuming large amounts of caffeine (which is an over-the-counter anti-depressant).
But non-druggy solutions like the ones you mention make a good compliment :) Especially the surround one. Surrounding myself with happy, optimistic folks does wonders. Surrounding myself with the opposite kind of people…. negative death spiral!