Many people struggle daily with issues.  They try to get ahead but end up feeling like fate keeps throwing obstacles in their way.   They get caught up on bills only to have some break, that comes with a high bill for repair.  There are many times when things get hard, and it feels like you can never get ahead but never forget getting ahead can happen.  So many times, when people struggle, they lose hope.  Losing hope can lead to giving up and giving up never leads to anywhere productive. 

                Many times, when people seek treatment, they have already lost hope.  I think when people lose hope things tend to get worse.  They may overeat, overspend, or overindulge in things that lead to bigger problems.  At the point they seek treatment, but may be overweight, severely in debt, or have an issue with the law and are trying to get out of trouble.  By this time, things are really hard, and the situation is much harder to manage.  When you think about staying hopeful, the trick is to have some tactics to help identify when you are headed down the wrong path. 

                The first tactic is to know when hope is fading.  Think about times when you struggle.  What is happening?  How do you feel?  What are you most likely to do?  When you think about those times, make plans to do more positive things to help you not lose hope for the future.  Watch your favorite movie, go to a place that reminds you there are good things happening.  Go for a walk to clear your head or read a favorite book.  The trick is to catch yourself before things get bad. 

                Sometimes, catching yourself will work, but other times it might not.  Feeling overwhelmed can easily make things seem harder.  When things get bad, being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel can get hard as well.  Whether you are a teen in school, or a senior citizen living alone with little support, everyone gets overwhelmed and has trouble remembering better times, or that things will get better if you can hang in there.  Sometimes it takes a day or two, and other times it can take a month or two, but it can get better.  If you are in debt, it can take a while to get out of debt.  If you gained a large amount of weight, it would take time and effort to take it off.  Give yourself time to make changes.

                As you work on trying to make things better, there are ways that can help with your motivation.  Set goals that you can meet.  If you have 100 pounds to lose, don’t set a goal to lose all 100 pounds in three months.  If you are thousands of dollars in debt, don’t assume you are going to pay it off in a couple months.  The idea is to find the balance between the issues you are facing and plans that keep you feeling like you are making progress and renewing your hope for your future. 

                Losing hope is easy, especially at this time.  Prices are going up.  It costs more to do things and find enjoyment in life.  It’s harder to visit family and friends, and to make ends meet at home.   Even with all the issues of the day, it will get better.  The great depression didn’t last forever.  Things got better, and the country prospered in later years.  Our country is strong and will recover from the current issues.  Never lose hope for the future.  That’s part of being happy, for life.