Hopeful or Hopeless

The dichotomy of hope and despair.

I alternate between these two emotional states on a weekly basis. Although, if I’m honest, my tendency towards despair and hopelessness is far greater than being hopeful and optimistic. I know it’s easy to look at the modern world in its current state here towards the end of 2025 and basically mainline dejection straight into the heart. However, is it possible to flip the script with the power of positivity? Does hope really spring eternally?

Light at the end of the tunnel or a train coming the other way? Photo by Gabriel on Unsplash.

 So, let’s explore whether we hope less or we can hope more.

Today, I feel hopeless

The green grass has turned brown

The garden path has broken down

The well has run dry (at least no one can drown)

My wife, there is a tear in her gown

I’m hiding behind the tears of a clown

Wait, Steph Curry from downtown!

Sports, an attempt to stop a full meltdown

“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown”

Why does rhyming have such renown?

Being devoid of hope

Prevents us from moving forward

It erodes motivation

A circular negative feedback loop

We lose our “why”

Why get up?

Why keep fighting?

The aim to be better is extinguished

The will to live disappears

The grass withers, the flower wilts.

To despair is human

The eternal spiritual illness

To be oneself, to not be oneself

We suffer either/or

Misery begets misery

A lack of hope leads to

Emotional suppression and avoidance,

Immediate gratification and pleasure-seeking

Saying everything is meaningless

Is the same as having no hope

There’s no point in living,

If you can’t feel alive

To be hopeful is to want to be alive

How involved in your life are you?

Are you in control (of your life) or,

Have you given the control over to others?

Vitality, fulfilment, joy – if you want it enough

Life – Do you do it, or does it do you?

Where’s the stability, where’s the poise

Sort the significant from the noise

Hopeless is selfish

Hopeful is selfless

Hopeless is letting the weeds overrun the garden

Hopeful is planting trees you’ll never shade under

Hopeless is “this isn’t where I thought I’d be”

Hopeful is “where do I want to be?”

Hopeless is “I couldn’t live without you”

Hopeful is “I need you, but I’m also here for you”

Hopeless is nihilistic, indifferent to the future

Hopeful is faith, courage, sacrifice, and something to look forward to.

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Hopeful for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Photo by Jared Erondu on Unsplash.