How to have hope for the future

I often hear people say, “It’s OK to be hopeless.” But, without hope, you don’t have much.

It’s common to lack hope, though. Someone with depression, by nature of their illness, may lack hope that they’ll ever feel better.

The parent of an adult child with an addiction might not have hope that they’ll ever change because they’ve seen them go through so many struggles without changing.

Hopelessness feels like a dark hole that is impossible to escape.

Fortunately, however, you don’t have to stay stuck there—even though it feels like you do.

You have the power to develop hope, even in the most difficult situations.

How to find hope when depressed

And when you feel a little more hopeful, you'll also feel mentally stronger, which can help you take positive action that may improve your situation.

Hope Defined

Hope involves a belief that you could create a positive outcome.

It’s not wishful thinking—like wishing you’d win the lottery. Instead, hope means you believe that you’re capable of achieving a goal—like you could work hard and get out of debt.

Hope is also different from optimism. Essentially, optimism

having hope in difficult times

how to have hope in hard times