Re: work on Hope -- Judy

[Guest guest]

Hi Judy,

it seems to me that " the present sucks " describes your situation

better than it being without hope.

I'd be curious to see where inquiry into 'the present sucks' leads

you.

It seems to me we tend to equate a lack of positive involvement in

the present with hopelessness.

BTW, I could relate to most of what you were saying below, it's how

I feel during the times when I call myself depressed.

Eva

> Since hope has been a subject, I decided to do the work on hope.

To see

> what happens. Without hope. This is for all the times I have been

> without hope, past present future.

>

> I am depressed because my situation (whatever it is) is hopeless.

>

> Is it true?

> It seems hopeless.

>

> Can I absolutely know it is hopeless.

> It might be. It happens sometimes to people. It's possible. And I

can't

> know for certain.

>

> How do I react when I believe my situation is hopeless.

> I feel tired. I can't think of a way out. I try to think and keep

> hitting brick walls in my head. I feel irritable and grouchy.

> Depressed. Everything seems without meaning. I blame my partner

for his

> lacks and limitations, for not caring more about doing something

to

> change things. I compare myself to other people and they always

come

> out looking better in every way. I think about the future and it

looks

> bleak and hopeless. I feel depressed. I don't feel like eating. I

can't

> find motivation to do things unless I have to do them. I have

trouble

> being nice to people. I can't sleep. I can't wake up. I don't do

things

> that are important to me. My flow of creativity is blocked. I give

up.

> I think about mistakes from the past that got me where I am. I

can't

> relax. I can't meditate. I can't do yoga. I start listening to

other

> people's dire predictions about the future (which usually never

bother

> me) - and start thinking they are right about all the " shoulds " I

> " should " have done or should do. I don't have any fun. I lose my

sense

> of humor. I wish for someone or something to rescue me.

>

> Does it bring me stress or peace?

> It brings me tremendous stress (see above.)

>

> Can I see a reason to drop this thought?

> Yes, many reasons.

>

> What do I get out of this belief?

> I get to feel yucky. I get to be angry. I get to stay as I am. I

get to

> blame others. I get to blame myself. I get to have no motivation.

The

> future looks senseless and hopeless, the past is too blame, and

the

> present sucks.

>

> Who would I be without the thought that my situation is hopeless?

> I would be doing the things I love to do, no matter what. I would

be

> taking good care of myself, doing my yoga regularly, eating well.

I

> would be disciplined and follow a schedule that matters to me. I

would

> feel motivated and hopeful that I have the courage and ability to

> change things. I would be having fun with this thought, imagining

all

> the ways my situation might change, playing with many ideas.

Everything

> I do would have an element of hope to it, a myriad of

possibilities. I

> would have energy. I would be having fun in the moment, instead of

> being depressed about things as they are. I would see a beautiful

> vision wherever I looked, so that even the ugliness around me

would

> take on a certain beauty. I would be an inspiration to myself and

maybe

> uplifting to others. I would not depend upon someone else to

rescue me.

> I would not need for someone else to have hope for me, because I

would

> have my own. I would see my situation as perfect for me, the

perfect

> canvas upon which to paint the pictures God wants me to paint. I

would

> be having fun. I would believe in myself. I would be creative.

>

> TA

> My situation is not hopeless.

> This could be true. Situations change all the time. Miracles

happen.

> Ordinary things happen. Life changes. It could also be true that

my

> situation is not hopeless at all - it just IS as it IS - there is

> nothing really wrong with it -- except my thinking..........

>

> .........My thinking is hopeless.

> This is true. My hopeless thinking creates a feeling of

hopelessness

> inside me.

>

> My thinking is not hopeless.

> This is true also -- my thinking is not hopeless because it can

change.

> Even if my situation never did change, my thinking can, and then

my

> situation would look different.

>

> I look forward to my situation being hopeless.

> Hmm. Well, I can say I can look forward (sort of, not very) -- to

the

> challenge inherent in hopelessness.

>

> Well, there's my work for the moment. I " hope " someone out there

enjoys

> it at some level.

> Thanks........

> Judy

> xxxooo