When the World says, “Give up!”   Hope whispers, “Try one more time!”  ~ Anon

Hope has played such an enormous role in my life journey.

My darkest days all have one thing in common – they all lack hope.

Hope is like a bright light twinkling at the end of a long dark tunnel.

Hope has been my driving force, my determination, the key ingredient behind all good.

No matter how dark and removed from hope you feel, remember that the door to hope is always open.

But where and how do you find hope when you feel there is none?  The following suggestions may help you to find your own doorways to hope.

1. Finding Hope in Nature

I’ve always found that connecting with nature, helps to rejuvenate the hope in my life at times when I sense a black hole looming in the distance. The following articles start to explore this connection between nature and hope.

Harnessing Nature to Improve Your Mood – A personal account of how my mood shifted dramatically after spending time in nature.

Out Looking for Hope – Some beautiful images and captions that capture ways in which nature provides signs of hope.

2. Inspirational Quotes

Nothing raises the spirits and provides us with new perspectives better than a good old fashioned quote that manages to capture the essence of a subject in just a few words. Here are a few inspirational quotes focusing on hope – which hopefully – will offer you hope :-)

Hope is a renewable option: If you run out of it at the end of the day, you get to start over in the morning ~ Barbara Kingsolver

When it is dark enough, you can see the stars ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Believe you can and you’re halfway there ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Learn from yesterday, live for today and hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning ~ Albert Einstein.

3. Inspirational Stories

I often publish inspirational stories by people who have experienced depression and know full well what it feels like to be stuck in what seems like a black hole.  The experiences of the stories I publish are all very different, but they all have one thing in common – each person is in a much better and brighter place today than they were.  Sometimes the knowledge or reminder that others have been there too, but are in a much better place now, can offer you the hope you are looking for.  You can read the inspirational stories here: Inspirational Stories of Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health

4. What Delivers Hope for You?

Hope is not a prescription you buy over the counter. What works for one person, may not work for another. Do you have any other suggestions? What gives you hope at times when you are low?

You may also find the following articles inspirational or informative:

A series of articles focusing on hope, recovery and mental health.  An exploration of the question of, “Should I hope for recovery or should I accept my condition?” where a group of therapists offer their perspectives on hope.

Here’s a lovely blog post I stumbled upon while looking for quotes –  finding hope within you.