Feeling hopeless and powerless and guilty concerning the future/state of the world? | Ask Sam
Hi Sam,
I’m struggling to find purpose in spite of everything going on in the world currently - it feels like there is no hope for the future and no point concerning myself with A-levels or University or a job anymore.
I feel so lost my motivation is gone my ambition is extinguished and my hope is seriously dwindling i feel like giving up.
Honestly, I look around me and feel insane how can we be so selfish and greedy and ungrateful and ignorant?? All these horrible things happening and we’re all too powerless and distracted to do anything.
🎉it’s giving dystopian :P 🎉🥲
I dont think I could live with it if I tried to convince myself that everything is fine and just pretend for the rest of my life - so HOW does everyone else do it????
I can’t contribute anything meaningful to the world right now so i feel insanely guilty and it feels excruciatingly insulting to just carry on like it’s none of my business.
that leaves me stuck where I am now… ultimately how am I meant to get past this and feel hopeful and optimistic and motivated again?
Sorry if this is too broad or has already been answered - I don’t know if it is even possible to answer this - good luck regardless.
Thanks.
Sam
Hi there,
It’s natural to feel unmotivated when you’re feeling hopeless about the future. There will always be things in life you can’t control, but there are ways to feel more motivated and make small differences.
It can help to remember that doing something positive for others does make a difference. Whether it’s donating to a charity, volunteering, helping a friend, or just being polite to another person. Small acts of kindness help to make other people’s lives better, even if it’s in a small way. Making time to do what you can for others is a good way to feel more in control and motivated in other parts of your life as well.
Changing how you view the news or social media can also help. Spending lots of time viewing negative news or information can shift how you view the world. Taking a break or changing how you spend time online can help to shift your perspective or help you spend time focusing on parts of life that don’t feel negative. We’ve got lots of tips to help you get started changing what you do.
There are loads of things you can do to build your motivation again. Whether it’s A-levels, work, or anything else, taking small steps can help. If you’re struggling to start work because of how you’re feeling, try setting a timer for 5 minutes. Do nothing but work for those 5 minutes, and tell yourself you can stop afterwards if you need to. When the timer goes off, try setting it again.
You cannot control what other people will say or do, but you can make your own choices and act in a way you’d like others to. Remember, however you’re feeling, Childline is here to support you.
Take care,
Sam
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