There will be times when life’s challenges will cause extreme misery and sorrow. No matter what you do or how hard you try, you may feel that your situation is hopeless. You feel stuck in the tunnel of despair. Everything around you looks dark and uncertain. It seems as if things are falling apart, and your world is coming to an end.

It is very hard to see a way out of your problems when you are enveloped by darkness and despair. During these times, there are four fundamental and positive forces that can lead you out of despair and unveil solutions to your problems.

Hope

First, there is hope. Without hope, nothing can be achieved in life. People do terrible things to themselves and others when they feel hopeless, including suicide or murder. So the most important power we all have to nurture is the power of hope. We should never say our situation is hopeless; to say that our situation is hopeless means to doubt the infinite power we all are endowed with from birth.

This Universe is not designed to be scarce. The default design of this Universe is abundance. Those who find strength to see at least a ray of hope, even in the darkest hours of their life, will find a way out of their problems for sure. This is an indisputable truth of life. It is the power of hope that helps people see the light at the end of this tunnel. The stronger the feeling of hope, the easier it is to emerge out of the tunnel of despair.

Faith

But hope alone is not sufficient. As you travel through this dark tunnel of despair, your abilities will be tested and self-doubt may plague you. Doubt erodes self-confidence. But during those times of self-doubt, it is the power of faith that propels you forward. Deep inside, if you have faith that things will get better no matter how dark your situation may look today, you will overcome your self-doubt. Know that this Universe is not designed to fill us with doubt and despair. Life tests us so that we may ignite our willpower and awaken ourselves to the full power and potential of which we are inherently capable. The power of faith will propel you forward towards success, even under trying circumstances.

Patience

As you propel yourself forward through this tunnel of despair, with faith and hope, you still might not find the solutions that you are looking for. Sometimes it seems as if there is no end to this tunnel. To emerge out of it successfully, along with faith and hope, you need patience. Be patient until you reach the other end of the tunnel where it is full of light, where you see everything clearly and find what you want in life. You can’t just say, “I am hopeful and have faith but I need solutions right away. I can’t wait!” Well, sometimes you have to wait. Patience is a virtue. If you lack patience, you are certain to fail despite being endowed with other great qualities. If you have enough patience, it is absolutely certain that you will emerge victorious even from the most difficult and darkest situations in your life.

Endurance

As you move forward with patience, your endurance will also be tested. Obstacles will arise in your path. With every obstacle, make sure that your resolve to win gets stronger, not weaker. Life is not a sprint; it is a marathon. To run a sprint, a short burst of energy is sufficient. But to run a marathon, you need to maintain sustained levels of energy and endurance. The only way to develop this endurance is to keep trying and pushing yourself forward through all obstacles. One day, you will develop so much endurance that you will finally run the marathon of your life with so much ease that even if everyone and everything around you is falling apart, you will remain strong and unshakable.

Remember, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. As you get closer and closer to the end of the tunnel, the light will shine brighter and brighter. Just make the effort to get all the way through the tunnel. Imagine yourself having that invincible power of an absolutely calm state of mind. Such a feeling is very uplifting and will provide you with energy and endurance to move forward despite all obstacles in your path. You will finally emerge out of the tunnel of despair, penetrating the darkness around you. Bathed in that revealing, brilliant light at the end of the tunnel, you will feel relieved, refreshed, and rejuvenated!

Dr. Kiran is a physician and stress management expert and can be reached at [email protected]. (860) 375.0446. For more on how to live with less stress and more joy, please visit www.StressFreeRevolution.com