// BLOG

How To Stay Hope-Full in Hope-Less Times

March 18, 2010

hope

Hope =

Hope is belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one’s life. Hope is the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.

Yesterday I got a call from a twenty three year old girl. The first thing she said to me was, “I just don’t want to live anymore. Life is so full of pain and so is the world.”

I know exactly what she means.

These are particularly dark times. We living in a dark age, one that has been predicted for thousands of years.

In times like these it’s easy to feel hope-less, but inside of every challenge is a hidden opportunity. These times challenge us to dig down under the layers of life and find our inner resources of strength and resiliency. These are skills that we need anyway but difficult times give us the opportunity to find them.

So how do we have optimism and resilience in these most challenging times?

To weather these times, we need to put on the hat of the optimist. An optimist is someone who believes in the inherent goodness in people and situations. It’s a way of seeing the world through knowing that all situations work out for the best in the end.

That doesn’t mean that we ignore events or situations around us. It’s not a head in the sand kind of optimism.

It is optimism based on the inherent goodness of life.

So how can we have this kind of optimistic faith when everything seems so bleak at times? The answer is we must. Optimism is not based on what we see, but based on what we know to be true about life itself. If we don’t have a basic unshakable faith in life itself, then we are going to be in big trouble during times like these.

If you don’t have it now, then start building this for yourself. Really dig down under the layers and ask yourself what is life really all about at it’s core. Is it good? Is it bad? Is it neither? Is it both?

This is the perfect time to find your faith and belief in life because if you don’t have that, you don’t have anything.

Dark times call for unshakable belief and optimism in the inherent goodness of life. They challenge us to the nth degree because they test us to dig down to our foundation and hold firm to that which is unshakable.

We can do it. We can seize the opportunity that these times have to offer us. To be happy, kind and hope-full about life in the midst of challenge is the greatest gift that we can give to ourselves and the world around us.

Today find that which is unshakable in you. Grab hold and hold firm.

Tweet This Post

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Complain Complain - Which Train for Your Brain?

March 16, 2010

Complain complain, which train for your brain? That’s a nice little rhyme to say - which way do you want your thinking to go? Today, tomorrow and always.

Lately I feel like I’ve been hearing a lot of complaining. Here are some of the recent complaints I’ve heard in random order with my comments included:

“Oh I hate the snow and wish it was spring.“ Wait a minute, isn’t it supposed to snow in the winter or am I confused?
“I hate technology and wish it would go away” - You can hate it but it ain’t going away. I used to hate it too but that doesn’t help. In fact if you notice carefully that ‘horrible technology is actually providing the very link for you to read this.
A general life is so hard - Yes life today is really hard. I am in total agreement of that and yet we have untapped resources inside of us that can be generated in times. So what is our focus? Life is hard or I am resilient?

Now I’m not saying that these isn’t a lot of reason to complain. We live in particularly difficult times, but the point is this - what really changes by complaining about it?

You already know the answer - nothing, nada, niente. Three different ways to say a big fat NOTHING.

Nothing changes when we complain. Well that’s not exactly true. A lot of changes happen but not the ones that we really want.

Here’s what does change when you complain:

your heart rate excelerates
your blood pressure goes up
your mood dampens
your depression meter just shot through the roof.

So my question to you (and myself) is - are those the changes that you want? If the answer is a big fat NO then here’s what to do instead.

Feel your complaint whatever it is. First step is to ‘hear’ it and feel it inside. Then say to yourself - What can I do about it?
Sometimes there is nothing to do about the complaint. Sometimes it’s more about - What else can I focus on that is good, beautiful and right here now?
Be kind to others. This sounds strange and out of left field. How does being kind to others relate to not complaining. Well when you are kind and caring to others guess where your focus is? Not on yourself! Ah, that’s anti-complaining at it’s best. So ask yourself - Who needs me right now and who can I help.

In short, we can use ALL of the things that feel screwed up in our lives to make a better world. In fact that is our only chance for happiness.

There is absolutely no fixing this world. It is as it is and we must adapt. Not in a negative way but towards our greatness.

Today see how you can retrain your brain and get on the A-train towards happiness, fulfillment and dare I say it - joy!

Ah, now that wasn’t so hard was it? Get out there and share yourself today - love people, do more, be silent and witness the beauty of life going by.

Yours in getting on the right train,

Annie

p.s just so you know - I’m taking my own advice on this as well!

Tweet This Post

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Retreat 42 Group: Gavin’s Updates

March 16, 2010

I am guiding a wonderful group of 24 adventurers through the 42 Day Creative Retreat process and they are doing great! Here are some insights from Gavin, one of our members. Very exciting! If you get excited watching this and want to be part of the group, feel free to email me.