Dr. Henry Venter's Blog

In my previous blog I said that Hopelessness is the big threat of the 21st Century, even bigger that an economic recession. That is because hopelessness can attack you even if you are doing well by al material standards. So, what is the antithesis of hopelessness?

Hope!

It is not effective enough to simply block hopelessness and break its vicious cycle, (see my previous article) you have to establish a stronghold of hope in your life.

The power of hope is that it becomes a source of ongoing positive power. It’s different from just thinking positive or making positive statements; your foundation becomes positive because you know that you are more than an afterthought in this life – there has been special design and purpose in your creation and your life has purpose. It’s having the faith that something good is going to come out of my life, regardless of any current challenges.

The biggest problem facing the 21st century is not the threat of terrorism, the economic recession, or what do about health care. Rather it is the prevailing sense of hopelessness that have invaded our minds and trapped us into a way of thinking that blocks us from our full potential.

In his online self help eBook Be Your Own Therapist- Whoever You Hire Is Just Your Assistant, © 1995, psychotherapist Thayer White, MA MFT, a therapist with over 23 years experience in the areas of therapy and self-growth and a past president of the San Francisco Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, says that hopelessness is a crucial psychological problem.

Once hopelessness ensnares a person, it is easy to lose your way and direction. White states that it is then that we begin to say, “This is a bigoted society that stacks all the cards against me. There is no way I can get ahead.” He reasons that hopelessness is often compounded by a belief in entitlement: “In whatever ways I feel bad, the government/ society should fix.” In other words, now that I’m in this position of hopelessness someone should rescue me. Someone suffering from hopelessness becomes a victim of a negative reasoning pattern and as a result, gives up without even trying (or seeing) possibilities that can have positive outcomes for their problems.

We live in a worldwide society that is increasingly losing hope. The last foothold, the remaining anchor for many, was the economy — and that has spectacularly failed over the last year. In addition, the current political system worldwide gives very little security to anyone. In light of so many things going wrong in the world hopelessness has struck deep into the core of both young and old…and the world looks dark and bleak. How can you get yourself out of this quagmire of hopelessness? How can you, in these uncertain times, remain secure, steadfast, and calm?

It is possible for you to do! I have the answer here in my article, How to Conquer Hopelessness: 5 Steps to Break the Pattern of Despair and Negative Thinking.

My best wished to you my friends,
Dr. Henry Venter