What to Do in The Face of Hopelessness: 7 Ways to Free Yourself from It

Hopelessness is something we all have to deal with at some point. But first, we need to recognize it, stop and think about it, and then do something in order to get the happiness and contentment back in our life.

Many experience a period in their life when they think nothing good will happen, that there’s no reason to even try new and different stuff. And even if things change for the better, is there really any point?

That’s the feeling of worthlessness, despair, loss.

Do you recognize it?

It’s when you forget about all the good things that happened to you, and focus only on that one current mood. When you’re sure life is purposeless.

So you just want to give up and leave all important things behind. There’s no motivation, excitement, or hope inside you.

That’s how hopelessness looks like.

And it’s an awful place to be at.

Here are some side effects of it:

• sadness;
• negativity;
• feeling depressed;
• losing point in everything;
• feeling trapped and stuck;
• you stop taking care of yourself (sometimes even neglecting personal hygiene);
• sleeping too much simply because you don’t want to get up and face the day;
• mood changes;
• losing interest in doing the stuff you love;
• then feeling even worse for not doing anything;
• and the worst: taking actions that may hurt you, thinking about death, wanting to end your suffering, etc.

It’s a kind of depression, yes. But it’s also a state we all go through when we face challenges, a big change in our life, get lost and have no purpose.

Often because of one of the following reasons:

– losing your job;
– money problems;
– incident;
– bad relationship;
– losing a loved one;
– divorce;
– failing at something big;
– monotony.

And something needs to be done.

You feel like nothing will ever make a difference again, but that’s not true.

51% of Americans feel down, depressed or hopeless. But there are things you can do to get back on your feet and keep living the life your deserve as a happy person.

Here they are:

7 Steps to Freeing Yourself from Hopelessness

1. Doubt it.

When feelings like these occur, try to stop and notice them. To ask yourself whether they are realistic, to wonder why you feel this way.

They are a deep emotional state that is never real, it’s just your mind wanting to give up trying because it’s easier. But tell it that what it feels is not true.

2. Eliminate.

You probably know what the thing that causes such a depression is. And there’s nothing better, and simpler, than just getting rid of it.

If it does that to you, it doesn’t have any place in your life. Be it a person, job, or else, just eliminate it. (In case it’s another thing, keep reading.)

3. Focus on what you’ve got.

Hopelessness makes you feel like you have nothing.

But look around!

See all the people that love you, the opportunities, the things you love doing and the chance to practice them daily, the great memories from the past, the dreams for the future, your good sides and qualities, etc.

Forget about everything else, and concentrate on that. Thank for it, appreciate it. And soon you’ve feel abundance.

4. Change your point of view.

See things from a different angle.

I’m sure many people like certain things about you or your life that you don’t often notice. So focus on that.

5. Find a direction.

Many just don’t have a purpose, have no idea what to do with their lives, and – as a result – feel stuck.

That’s normal.

It’s also a sign that it’s time to sit down, take a pen and paper and face all your dreams, goals, big desires, values and things you care about.

And don’t stand up until you have turned these into specific goals and steps to take.

That’s your ‘why’. That’s your path to follow.

6. Be present.

Often hopelessness is caused by deep regrets for the past or too much stress and fear for the future. Uncertainty, big expectations…

Things like that ruin your present moment. And the only solution is to let go of them.

That’s the freeing process of eliminating thoughts about what was and what might be, so that you can be mindful in the present moment and fully experience it.
I wrote a book on that subject actually.

7. Try something new.

If you feel a void inside, if your life gets boring to the point where you start hating it, then it’s time for a change.

The beauty of life is that you can start over whenever you want.

You can always move somewhere else, quit your job and look for one in another field, leave your partner, travel the world, dedicate time and energy to your body and looks, start working on a personal project, etc.

Whatever it is that you choose to do about the way you feel, always remember that you yourself are more than enough. You don’t need anyone else, or to live by someone else’s standards.

You’re free to do whatever you want in life without feeling guilty about it.

Opportunities are everywhere around you. So figure out what you really want and go get it.

Have you ever felt hopeless? Why? And what did you do about it?