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“The need to address despair, and to restore hope, is critical to America’s future.”
An interesting comment from the blurb for Carol Graham’s new book “The Power of Hope: How the Science of Well-Being Can Save Us from Despair.”
I have ordered the book and am yet to read it.
More and more, despair is becoming a topic in my optimism clippings.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, gave a sermon last week “Following the Will of God” and argued, “Despair is a deeply human emotion, which is often seen as the culmination of the impact of a series of events which remove all optimism or reasons for optimism.”
It reminds me of the 2022 speech by Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Singapore’s Senior Minister & Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, who said, “Our central task must be to create bases for optimism in a world beset by crises and insecurities. Creating bases for optimism has to be our central task everywhere in the world and through global collaboration. We must create bases for optimism to see ourselves through this long storm and to emerge intact; emerge a better place, and it can be done.”
Many people struggle with hopelessness and despair, which can stem from various sources, such as the news media bombarding us with bad news and constantly referring to issues as a “crisis.” As a result, optimism is diminishing, and people are losing faith in the possibility of positive change.
The number of Australians on anti-depressants subsidised by the government has doubled in the last ten years to nearly one in five.
Addressing despair and restoring hope and optimism requires a multifaceted approach.
On an individual level, it’s essential to cultivate the habits of optimism, being infectiously optimistic, and cultivating a sense of purpose and meaning in our lives. At its simplest level, it’s using cheery greetings and looking for the positive in our personal stories and narratives. However, we can also focus on the positive aspects of our lives and practice gratitude, which can help shift our mindset towards a more optimistic outlook.
At a societal level, addressing despair requires a sense of confidence.
Restoring optimism is not quick or easy, but it’s critical to America’s and the world’s future.
Without optimism and hope, people can feel lost and disconnected, leading to mental health issues and social isolation.
By cultivating optimism and hope, we can create a more positive and fulfilling future for ourselves and our communities.
It’s time to address despair and restore optimism, one step at a time.
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