We are daily bombarded with bad news, repeating itself over and over again. Robberies, assaults, inequalities, global warming and wars are already part of our daily routine.
When we are kids, we believe that it is possible to change the world. We believe that one day everything will be resolved and we’ll live in harmony. Then, we grow up, become adults and, in addition to the world’s problems, the personal problems become present: bills, fights, relationships, anxiety and depression. And just like that, exhaustion overcomes hope.
At the end of the day, we stop, open the door, throw ourselves onto the bed and look up to the ceiling, desperately asking: where to find hope when everything seems to be falling apart?
After all, it’s not only a feeling, but also a resistance tool. It is hope that allows Chico Buarque to write the song Apesar De Você, during the Brazilian military dictatorship. Amidst fear and uncertainty, Chico made a proposal to the entire population: believing that all of that dark, twisted situation would pass and the responsible for that would be caught.
Hope allows people to find strength necessary to face daily adversities and persist in their dreams. It reminds us that, one day, it will all change. It allows people the capability of imagining a brighter future, the bravery to just keep walking, even when the circumstances make it seem like it will all go wrong.
But, how to deal with global and daily crises, and still remain hopeful?
Hope in Ideals
In fiction, we can find a lot of people who deal with hope in different ways. Lily Aldrin from How I Met Your Mother, relies on the universe and the signs it sends, believing in a bigger purpose. Ted Mosby, from the same show, finds hope in love. Even after going through many heartbreaks, he remains believing something better awaits in the future.
Hermione Granger, from Harry Potter, finds hope in knowledge, books and education, whereas Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory, places his faith in science and rational thinking.
At last, Steve Rogers, our emblematic Captain America, finds hope in the values and principles he believes in, fighting daily for them.
All of these characters are examples of people who rely and find strength in something greater than themselves, on things they truly believe. Whereas it may be love, the universe, science, knowledge or values. However, the options are endless. Others can find hope in religion, in God, in Karma, in the law of attraction, and many more harbourages.
Hope Beyond People
Having trust in ourselves is important, and to have people who are trustworthy, who support us and give us strength is fundamental. It is in our relationships that we receive refuge, incentive and motives to keep going.
However, placing all of our hope in other people, or even in ourselves is risky, because we fail. People fail. It is an immutable human trait.
We need to look for something bigger than ourselves, so that we can rely on when everything seems to go wrong. Something solid, stronger. Because, after all, circumstances change. Happily or not, they do change: what may seem today like it is all going great, can fully break down tomorrow; and what seems to be bad enough can become even worse. That is why, we need something firm in which to support ourselves, just so we won’t fall.
So, on those days that all you can do is stop, open the door, lay on your bed and look up to the ceiling after endless fights, the question may appear: Where is my hope? But that exact moment is when you can finally realize you already have the answer, and this is enough to give you strength to continue.
Hope is not the certainty that everything will work out. It is believing that life is still worth living. Even amidst the difficulties, it is still worth opening your eyes and living tomorrow. Even uncertain. Even afraid.
The world will remain broken. Circumstances will change. People will fail, but hope will allow us to stand up over, and over again.
As Chico said: tomorrow will be another day.
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The article above was edited and translated by Ana Beatriz Carvalho Sapata.
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