Hope Generati0n Skill 5: Develop Empowered Control

Sometimes, everyone feels a lack of control, leading to hopelessness and helplessness. When people feel like they have lost control over their lives, they are caught in a vicious cycle that keeps repeating. 

Life is not always as straightforward or easy to manage as we would like. At times, all people feel like they have no control over their lives, which may cause them severe stress and feelings of hopelessness and discourage them from setting and working toward their goals. No matter how hopeless and helpless you feel in the present, however, moving forward and regaining the control you seek is always a possibility. Due to the pandemic, more and more people are saying, “I’ve lost control of my life!”

Recent global developments like the coronavirus pandemic increase anxiety about how fast changes occur. People may be confused about what life will be like in the post-pandemic era. People must find ways to become optimistic, cope with new ways of living, and discover how they can feel more empowered in their lives. There are things that people can do to feel more in control of their own world, develop goals, and increase hope so they can become excited about the future. Although people may be experiencing psychosocial stressors, they must know how to access the inner and outer resources they need to maintain hope and feel better about their future. These internal resources are sometimes called ego strength, while external resources often entail social support. To regain control in life, people need to identify ways to creatively cope and stay optimistic.