Hope…

It is also a concept characteristically hard to define. It can be even harder to apply practically in our own lives. We all know the stats of NZ and Aus suicides and have experienced the strong undercurrent of depression and isolation. All too often people cannot see hope – all they see is their circumstances, and that includes myself.

During theses days of COVID-9 virus lockdown and restrictions, we have to be especially mindful of maintaining hope. 

We also need to find ways to help install words of hope for people who are struggling, we need to encourage them to adopt an outlook on life that is hope focussed rather than circumstantial. 

Hope is hard to define, what is it? Often it can seem like hope is a mysterious thing that floats around the edges of your mind often disappearing into thin air the moment it touches your fingers.

Hope can be scary what if you never find it? Maybe hope is something other people experience but it’s not for you. Maybe hope is just a word used by people who have it.

Hope can be disappointing what if you work yourself up to try one more time and things get worse? What if you give it everything you’ve got and it’s not enough?

Hope it’s hard to hold onto especially when depression, anxiety, unwanted thoughts and fears crashing in. Hope can be like touching a hot poker – you have to drop it immediately or be burnt –  again.

And yet we cannot live without hope

What if you could review hope as a journey rather than a destination where you finally arrive what if we could journey towards hope together?

Some of you might not have much hope as you click on my latest update blog titled “Hope” and I hear you. I applaud you for even looking at it let alone opening it. 

As someone who has live with a serious mental illness my entire life I can identify your hesitation to spend time in a blog with hope as the title. I can also resonate with the deep emotional and mental anguish you might be experiencing as you face the circumstances of your life today amongst this global epidemic, especially if you suffer from a mental illness.

I know firsthand the absolute necessity of hope to survive. Over time, especially these last 9 months. I have had to learnt what it means to rebuild a broken and shattered body and mind. You might find this strange or hard to believe but I am becoming more hope-filled today than I have ever been.

You might find this strange or hard to believe but I am becoming more hope-filled today than I have ever been.I have build in place a structure and routine to help bring stability into my life. Routine and structure is very important to people who have bipolar. In fact it’s important to everybody. 

A good routine

Every Sunday night I get out my diary and plan my week. Putting in things that I know are important to maintain a balanced life. I add physio, fitness, hydro therapy, community day programme, nights I’m cooking tea, coffee with mates, Church actives, seeing my psychiatrist psychologist, my volunteering work etc

These things give me a focus for the week. It’s when these thinks are disrupted that my life becomes a bit wobbly, so I need something bigger or unchanging that I can rely on to help me manages these uncertain times. 

For me its my faith because I believe my God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Being a christian I can count on His promises that He will be with me during the storms of life. For you it could be another religion you rely on, or your partner/spouse.

We all need a rock to hold onto, that gives us hope. Something/person that is consistent and there for us when we need them the most. Especially when we can sense/feel depression could just be right around the corner for us, waiting with open arms…

My favourite quote that I have printed and stuck to my bedroom wall is “this too shall pass”

Being depressed often focuses you’re thinking in the past or present, its extremely hard to think forward.

Hope is that forward thinking. The rock that is unmovable, stable, secure, and reliable.

When there is hope in your heart, you start seeing the world differently. Problems can become opportunities.

During these times of uncertainty work out what counts and what’s doesn’t.

Work out what your Rock (hope) is that you can rest upon, cling too when the going gets tuff.