Looking forward to your life: 7 reasons to have faith in the future
Gloom…
When things are bad, it’s easy to think there’s no hope for a better future – but there is!
Life is full of amazing things to look forward to and reasons to be cheerful.
So if the world feels grey and you’re having trouble staying positive among the stresses of everyday life, here are some good things to remember:
People are basically good
Most of the people around us are decent, kind-hearted people who will help us if they can. We live with other people for a reason; a society’s parts add up to a greater whole. Together, we can achieve wonderful things – so don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.
The world has new opportunities every day
Times change, and we need to change with them. There are new job opportunities, new TV programmes, new fashion styles, new work methods and equipment.
Some new changes may not appear beneficial, but like it or not, they may be good for us in the long run. Being pushed outside our comfort zone can feel scary, but can actually be a good experience, as we’re forced to consider other other options and new ways of doing things.
Our standard of living is improving
When I was a child, there was no internet – a computer filled an entire room and was something only a specialist could handle. There was no such thing as a skateboard or a mobile phone. People died in house fires because there were no smoke detectors, and were unjustly convicted where DNA fingerprinting could now save them.
Medicine is always coming up with new discoveries and inventions. We can vaccinate our children to protect them from childhood diseases. We no longer need to suffer through sorrow without the aid of Prozac. From insulin pumps to artificial skin, our lives are gradually getting better.
We’re starting to save the planet
Sure, we haven’t done it yet, but we’re on the way. People and businesses are much more energy-aware and there is less waste and more recycling. We’re making great progress in conservation and we’re improving awareness every day. Think of the fuss when Cecil the Lion was killed – a few years ago, people would have shrugged and said, “Hey, a dead lion. Big deal.”
You’re never too old to learn
Time was, leaving school or college was the end of our opportunity to develop our knowledge. Now, lifelong learning is the norm and we can take degrees or study for career qualifications – or just for pleasure – at any age.
Bad times can be the key to good times
When our lives are easy, there’s a tendency to drift instead of setting goals.
Sometimes it’s by suffering and struggling that we find out what’s important to us and identify what we really want out of life. Setting those priorities is the first step towards achieving them.
You haven’t finished yet
There’s still time. Even if you haven’t achieved anything worth mentioning in your life so far, you can start on your goals tomorrow – or right now!