Being a relatively new full time caretaker to my disabled husband has sunk me into a premature grief. I have come to accept that he is not going to get better and our life will change permanently. Coming to this realization, I found myself depressed.
I have always found the spoken word helpful when I am discouraged. On my shelf I had three volumes of tapes from motivational Christian speaker Zig Ziglar. Driving in my car, I began to listen to his encouraging and very funny teaching. Zig talked about having hope.
Hope is a critical element in considering the future. Without hope, well, frankly a person may think about giving up.
Contemplating the word H-O-P-E . . . I think of how powerful that four letter word really is. Hope - is a word based on today with a promise of good things for the future.
Where does our hope come from? Is it possible to self-generate hope?
I have found there are three keys to embracing hope:
The first key is having faith. Realizing there is a higher power a God who will never leave nor forsake me. I do not have to face my future alone.
The second key is being in community. When I hang out with friends or family, I feel a sense of belonging and love. Again, I realize I am not alone.
The third key is reviewing my life. I did not get to be a member of AARP without going through a lot of life experiences. I have had many challenges and have successfully survived tough times. In reviewing my life, I realize that I can make it. Hope is the lifeblood to longsuffering. Embracing hope is important when the future is unknown.
www.stages2change.com
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