How to Find Hope in Dark Times - Rachel Devine
We live in a time where there is great darkness and challenges in our world. We no longer have a feeling of peace, especially with war raging in areas abroad. There is a feeling of uncertainty and perhaps hopelessness. Horror stories that emerge from the news are disturbing, to say the least, and weigh heavily on our wellness. Hope seems to be a forgotten friend.
Let’s explore ways to find hope, irrespective of what is happening around us. We can always decide how we view what is going on in the world and in our own world. Do we look for what’s wrong, or do we look for what’s right? Herein lies the key to finding hope. It’s all according to how you view the world.
Let’s look at 5 ways to find hope in dark times:
Your worldview
Your worldview is paramount to having hope in dark times. We can look at things happening from a catastrophic point of view. However, that will only bring us down and really doesn’t help the challenging plight. Now, what if I view the world from the perspective of the good that is happening in the darkness? What if I focus on the humanitarian aid, the people on the ground helping out, possible future changes, and the prayers to God that are being said? That would offer some light in the darkness and hope in the midst of calamity. How you view the challenges in the world is a choice only you can make. Looking for the good that will emerge from the calamity means looking at the world from a different perspective.
Detaching
Detaching from the news for a while will help you find some hope and peace. Watching every little nuance of the atrocities in the world will only keep you in a state of despair and hopelessness. The news can bring you into fear to the point of not wanting to leave your house. The bad news will assure you that you will wallow in the darkness of world affairs rather than the light of hope. The news has one purpose, and that is to sell to their audience. The majority of what they are selling is bad news, and if you wallow in that, it will be difficult to find any hope. The news will bring you the worst possible situations, and when you are done watching, you might feel depleted and anxious. That is the time to turn it off. Believe me, the world will keep spinning on its axis whether you watch the news or not. In other words, don’t be a participant in the dictates of a news program that causes a feeling of despair. Allow yourself 10 minutes to catch up on the news, and then do yourself a favor and turn it off. Perhaps reading a book or some quotes on finding happiness will help turn things around.
Prayer = hope and peace
Prayer is the equalizer in times of any challenge. Prayer can bring you to a place of hope in an instant. Let’s look at how to find hope in God. When we pray, we are in the moment of our prayer, and that brings us from the darkness to light. God can only be found in the moment. He is not in the past or the future; he is in this very sacred moment. When we are in a prayerful state, we are connected to the peace of God. Darkness disappears when in prayer. It's like shining a flashlight in a dark room. I believe in the power of prayer; therefore, prayer helps me feel at peace and gives me a lot of hope. It helps me let go of the things I cannot change. Remember, you have the power within to offset any darkness in the world. Pray for the world at large.
Louise Hay said, “The point of power is always in the present moment.”
Finding hope in a support group
Being around people of like-mind will help you feel brighter. Join a support group. Perhaps a prayer group, a focus group, a writing group, a 12-step group, or join a meetup group that socializes. Getting out and talking to other people helps prevent the power of the chaos from infringing on the mind and also gives a well-deserved break from world affairs. Detaching from the chaos and being around people of like-mind can be as refreshing as taking a dip in the ocean. Expressing yourself in a group setting is a healthy move in the direction of inner peace. Or give yourself the gift of a weekend getaway. These mini vacations can help recharge your batteries and detach from the world’s chaos. These are some ways to find hope and happiness in your life.
Gratitude
In the center of hope lies the enormous power of gratitude. Counting your blessings is a way to shift from feeling hopeless to finding hope. It’s okay to feel fortunate in times of challenge in the world. It’s okay to be grateful for all you have. I suggest you make a gratitude list of at least five things you are grateful for daily and read it out loud in the morning and before you go to bed at night. Going to bed in a peaceful state of gratitude is priceless. It will help you manifest the power of God’s goodness into your life.
In conclusion, finding hope and peace in dark times is a choice. We all have the power to decide what we allow into our psyche. Our choices will dictate whether we are shining in the light or wallowing in the darkness. However, when anxiety becomes the norm, it really is time to set some boundaries. And remember, you have the power and the choice to decide what you allow to come into your emotional world.
“In life, we have to be strong and bright enough to face our dark times. Eclipse may come and eclipse may go; nothing should stop our inner strength’s flow."
― Munia Khan
I suggest you stay in that inner strength’s flow, under the tent of God.
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