You know who you are. The people who always wish for the better things in life. The ones who refuse to believe that a situation is impossible to overcome. You expect the best in anyone and anything at anytime. You believe that people can change, that they are good and want to do good things. You are the light of the group, constantly responsible for providing the boost of faith that everyone needs sometimes. You radiate happiness and strength; when things get rough, you are the one who keeps smiling. People who not only have hope, but share it with the world are the back bone of society; they are the people who keep the world afloat.
But it's hard to be hopeful. You are constantly expected to be cheery and smiling. But in your world, there are no "bad days." You feel drained because you are constantly giving more support than you receive, because according to everyone else, you have it all together. You want the best for everyone in every situation, sometimes you want it so bad that you can't imagine a way that it could not happen. But then life steps in and you are knocked back down, like you never had a chance in the first place. That deflation, that feeling of your old hope twisting on you until you feel your chest is being crushed, is overwhelming. It isn't fair -- why do you have to be happy all of the time? Why should people constantly expect you to give and give and give until you feel like there is nothing left?
The truth is you don't.
No one expects you to stretch yourself so thin that you are no longer capable of functioning. These burdens you feel are most likely reflections of your own expectations for yourself, not what others think. Happiness and hopefulness are choices we all have to make for ourselves, but it's OK if just for a little bit you need someone else to provide a positive point of view. Put yourself first sometimes, even if that feels selfish. Your friends and family will understand that this is something you just have to do -- and if they don't, then you honestly do not need that in your life. Self care is extremely underrated, but so very very important.
If hope is hard for you, then take a step back and rethink what you're being hopeful for. Is it something that is unrealistic? Is it something that you want or someone else wants for you? Why do you want it?
Wishing and hoping are meant to be positive emotions, but sometimes we attach negative things to what we are hoping for. We wish for the wrong things or for the wrong reasons. We set unrealistic expectations on events and people, which, because people aren't perfect, leads to disappointment. Have expectations and standards, but be sure to keep in mind the other person's personality as well.
This isn't meant to tell you to stop hoping. The opposite actually. Keeping dreaming, and keep wishing, just remember that if life decides to knock you down, it's okay if it hits you harder than others. Grieve and grow. You are more than any type of disappointment or heartache that may weigh you down.
So keep hoping, because the world needs more people like you.
