Hope Lost
Remember when you generally felt that the future was loaded with possibilities? You felt as if anything was within reach if you were willing to work hard to make it happen. You entered into the world of employment eager to achieve great things. Or, you began your own venture assured of your success.
But somewhere along the way, things shifted. You lost hope.
You discovered that you couldn’t conquer mountains; instead, it was always a constant climb. You were always proving yourself with no real reward to the hard work you’ve put in.
Maybe a dream you were chasing slipped away. Maybe you feel like you’re spinning your wheels, using all of your energy with no results. Perhaps you now find yourself feeling lost, without a direction or purpose.
Whatever it is, now you are feeling like there’s nothing to strive for because things will never improve. You no longer hope.
What do you do now? How do you begin to hope again?
Start at the Source
Start by taking a look within yourself. Hope is something that comes from within us. It can’t be found in a single person, idea, promotion, job title, or anything else. It starts with us. So, how do you reignite the hope inside yourself?
Well, you’re already on the right track. You’ve recognized that there is a problem, and you’re ready to do something about it. Before you move on, though, take time to allow yourself to feel what you’re feeling. Be kind to yourself and allow your emotions to come to the surface.
If you feel like crying, then do it. Cry a little. It will be much easier to move on once you’ve allowed yourself to work through how you’re feeling right now.
Ask for Help
Call a friend. Talk to them about how you’re feeling. Meet for coffee. Do what you need to do to share this with someone supportive. Let your chosen person know that something needs to change and that you’re working on discovering where to start.
Talk about your strengths and weaknesses. Figure out what you’re good at and focus on that. Work to remember who you are what makes you a great person.
Endure
Have you ever taken an endurance test? In an endurance test, you can’t get through the test by walking away and ignoring it. The only way to complete the endurance test is by going through it.
The biggest obstacle in our way of getting through tough times is usually us. We are in our own way a lot of the time. Have you thought about the unfairness of your current situation? Have you agonized over what you could’ve chose differently? What if you’d done this instead of that—what would be the result then? Why is this happening to you? Why do you feel this way? So on and so on.
Sometimes, we have to live through something unpleasant. That’s the only way to get past something—to go through it.
And, the only way to get through it is to endure the situation. You can endure. You can do it. 
I know you can get through this to walk through to the other side triumphantly. And when you do, you’ll be a much stronger person for it.
Life isn’t simple or easy, as you know. You’ve worked hard for everything else in your life. Being a content, satisfied person full of hope is no different. It’s something you have to work hard to achieve.
Purpose Regained
It’s time to get crystal clear on what it is you want in life. Your heart is calling out for something. What have you been pushing aside, ignoring, hoping it will go away because it’s an inconvenient calling or dream? What is it that you know you want but that you keep saying, “No, not right now,” to? You know deep in your heart there is something you’re supposed to be doing that you’re not.
Do you know what’s stopping you? Do you know why you haven’t grabbed on to that one thing you know you want the most and embraced it?
Fear.
Sometimes, it’s easier to be miserable and not feel the fear than it is to go after everything you want knowing how much more it will hurt if you fail—or at least that’s what we often think. But, I’m here to tell you: it’s not true. It’s not even a little bit true.
Remember that sometimes what we want isn’t about one thing. It isn’t this one grand purpose but instead it’s about a lifestyle shift, a change in mindset, or a readjustment of our view of the world.
Come Out Fighting
It’s time to put yourself to the front of the queue. You need to make yourself a priority. Put in the time to understand what it is you want. Remind yourself that you are more than this. You are more than a title, a salary, a marital status—you are the only you in the world. There is no one else that can impact the world in exactly the way you can. Remember that. Hold on to that.
You are worth it.
Omozua Isiramen has been a hairstylist, a chef, a trainer, and a teacher. She achieved much but still found herself feeling stuck, not able to move forward or go back. Happiness seemed like something that only other people were able to find. She has been where you are and she is ready and waiting to help you out of that rut. Learn more about Omozua.
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