The Roots and Impacts of Hopelessness, and Strategies for Overcoming it (Part One)
Human beings are a collection of various moods and conditions, influenced at every stage of life by prevailing circumstances. Their temperament takes on hues of good and bad, and their nature can transform, sometimes undergoing a complete shift that makes them almost unrecognizable. It feels as if we’re encountering them for the first time, rediscovering them all over again. Therefore, humans rarely exhibit a consistent and singular disposition, often demonstrating changes in habits and behaviors. Depending on the circumstances, they may respond to those around them in a manner that is either pleasant or disagreeable.
To illustrate this state, it is like a pot of food placed over a fire; whatever you put into the pot is what will cook and emerge. Alternatively, it is like soil: whatever you plant is what will grow. One cannot expect wheat from barley, nor corn from barley, and every reaction is the outcome of an earlier action. Likewise, a person’s mood is influenced by their surroundings; seeing, hearing, touching, or even feeling certain things and events can instantly transform their personal world, reshaping it and breaking down their inner self.
Now, these impactful moods can be divided into positive and negative, good and bad. Corresponding to this influence, an individual’s actions are transformed, affecting not only their personal life but also their family life in both the short and long term.
For example, if a person gets into a trivial argument with a colleague, allowing it to escalate into a confrontation with angry words, they sacrifice their peace over a meaningless matter. Later, when they come home still anxious and troubled, they may react more quickly and sharply to minor irritations, raising their voice with family members in a way that feels particularly harsh. Since this person holds a respected position in the family, no one dares to confront them or offer an explanation; instead, the family becomes silent sufferers, victims of the unresolved issues from outside.
On the contrary, happy and joyful moods yield better outcomes, spreading cheer to both the individual and their loved ones. For instance, when a person experiences joyful moments, immersed in happiness, they avoid anything negative or inappropriate that might tarnish the purity of their joy. Just as they wish to protect their own happiness, they also go out of their way to fill the hearts of their family members with joy, showering them with moments of laughter and positivity.
One of these varied moods and emotional challenges is despair, a negative and often harmful state. This feeling of deep hopelessness sometimes arises due to specific causes, impacting a person’s core and altering their behavior. Despair can stem from various powerful reasons, sometimes leading individuals to extreme actions like self-harm or choosing detrimental paths for their lives. It can also lead a person to inflict pain on others, manifesting their hopelessness in various forms across society.
In this article, we will first examine the factors that lead to symptoms of despair in an individual, turning their expression into a showcase of gloom. Next, we will discuss the consequences of this despair, and finally explore strategies and methods for combating it, Allah willing.
