“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love, have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it – always.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
How can I find hope in the midst of despair?
It is nuts out there! Read anything, watch anything, talk to anyone, engage in social or environmental justice work, politics, economy, health, walk through the city, the burnt forest, or the plastic filled beaches…Amidst all of this, where does one find encouragement and hope?
Hope is a human need. It offers a sense of purpose and motivation, and helps to fulfil the deep well inside of us to see the potential for good, for a positive action that can make a difference no matter how grand or small.
My inquiry is, how do I stay awake to all of it, be engaged and remain hopeful?
I’m open to any and all of your suggestions
I recently asked those around me how they find optimism during this time. Again and again, I heard that connection to nature, breath, presence, and a sense of gratitude—focusing on what we do have rather than what we don’t—helped restore a sense of hope. It’s a practice of going inward and also reaching back to the natural world to find the ground below us and the hope within us.
Sraddha (faith or more thoroughly, what we align with our heart) speaks to hope. In this case, the practice helps me remember the absolute wild privilege to be in this body and the divine order that must unfold for each and every breath. All of it, the good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly!
This remembering allows me to get past the noise outside and get to work on attending to the precious gift of this life. As we look deeply within, we can move out into the world, doing what we CAN do, engaging our full effort, and giving full attention to the change we want to see, as Gandhi reminds us.
Janet Stone’s studentship began at 17 under the meditation teachings of Prem Rawat. His reverence for simplicity and finding joy in the rise and fall of life live on in her practice and teaching today. She shares from the alchemy of her own sadhana through bhakti yoga and the eight-limbed path. https://janetstoneyoga.com
