Follow your favourite podcasts, listen offline and in the car with CarPlay and Android Auto, and always pick up where you left off. Free to try.
Welcome to your Daily Dose of Hope. I’m Phyllis Nichols.
When you’re going through a hard time, it can feel like nothing good will ever happen again.
You might know, somewhere in the back of your mind, that things can change. But knowing that and feeling hopeful are two different things.
So what do we do when hope feels far away?
I want to offer three small things you can try. You don’t have to do all of them. Start with whichever one feels possible.
First, make the time frame smaller.
You don’t have to figure out how you’re going to get through the next six months today. What would help you get through this morning? Or the next hour?
Maybe you need something to eat. Maybe you need to step outside. Maybe you need to put one difficult task aside until you’ve had some rest.
Sometimes we’re trying to carry the whole future at once. It helps to come back to the part we’re actually living.
Second, borrow a little hope.
Reach out to someone who can listen without requiring you to put a cheerful spin on things.
You can say, “I’m having a hard time, and I could use some company.” You don’t need a polished explanation.
I’ve talked before about sharing hope when we have it and borrowing it when we need it. This is one of those moments when borrowing is allowed.
Third, choose one helpful action.
Something small that supports you or gives you a little more information. Send the email. Ask the question. Make the appointment. Let someone know what you need.
The action doesn’t have to solve the whole problem to be worthwhile.
And if what you can manage today is drinking some water and answering a friend’s text, let that count.
I know these things won’t make every hard situation easier right away. Some things take time, and some things hurt even when we’re doing everything we can to help ourselves.
But you deserve care while you’re going through them.
You don’t have to feel hopeful before you take a hopeful step.
For today, make the time frame smaller, let someone be with you, or choose one thing that helps.
