What I focus on when things feel bleak

I haven’t been writing very much about current events or politics in the last while.

Occasionally I have shared thoughts about world issues in my newsletter, or on my social media. But on a whole, my weekly messages here are intended to be about tarot in some capacity.

And sometimes, I wonder if this gives the impression that I’m not noticing what’s going on, or what’s happening out there.

But of course I am.

We are in some tough times, and have been for a while.

And I know that it can be hard to know what to focus on, and what to think some days.

Whenever I start to feel disappointed in the world, or when I start to lose hope for the Earth, I remind myself of how creative and inspiring people can be, too.

Our world is so much more than just one thing: It is never all bad, because there are far too many iterations and possibilities unfolding simultaneously.

When I find my thoughts wandering too far into despair, I think of all the amazing art that has been created, and that is yet to be born.

I think of music that I love, and what a wonderful thing it is that music exists at all.

I think about things I personally want to create and share with others: Books I want to write, paintings I want to do, classes I can teach.

I think about all the books I still haven’t read yet, and how exciting it feels knowing that they are waiting for me.

And I think about all of the people I haven’t met yet, and the experiences I can’t yet fathom will occur: There is always so much to learn and do.

And I come back to the belief that, at the end of the day, most of want the same things: To feel secure, to be loved, and to be happy.

I remind myself there is always a lot of good out there, in spite of all the rest.

That there are countless people who dedicate their whole lives to helping others learn, heal, thrive, and succeed. That right at the very moment, someone, somewhere, is working on a solution that will help someone, somehow.

And that every day brings the possibility for bright new ideas and inventions.

And that there is always opportunity for inspiration and new possibility.

Cynicism sets in when these brighter spots are forgotten. But cynicism is a trickster that wants us to believe we have it all figured it out, and to believe that every answer leads to something grim and hopeless.

It's normal to feel fear. It’s normal to worry about the future. We all do.

Sometimes, hope doesn’t have an easy way into our lives. It might have to slip through the cracks at first, like sunlight breaking through the clouds.

But it’s there. It’s always there.

Tell me: What do you do to practice hope?

Until next time,

Liz

p.s. If you'd like to connect 1:1 for a tarot reading with me, please visit lizworth.com/readings to learn more.