DREIESKIVA​|Roald Kvam

I’m writing this from the heart—because I understand that life can sometimes feel overwhelming, unfair, and empty. The hope that once fueled your life may have become clouded by disappointment, pain, and adversity. Perhaps you’ve experienced loss, lost your sense of direction, or been met with repeated setbacks that have worn down your hope.

You might feel exhausted, as if you’ve spent all your energy fighting for something that will never come to be.

First, let me say this:
There is no shame in feeling hopeless.

Every human being—no matter how strong—goes through seasons in life where the light is barely visible, and the darkness feels all-consuming. Losing hope isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a very natural response to the difficulties life throws at us.

Life isn’t two plus two equals four. Life is paradoxical.

At the same time, it’s important to remember that even in the darkest of times, there is always a path back—a way to hope.

Hope is a powerful force that helps us carry on in the face of challenges. When we lose it, we can feel stuck. We retreat, isolate ourselves, and start to believe there’s no way out—for us. Hope can fade gradually, worn down by a string of small disappointments, or it can vanish suddenly due to a major tragedy or loss.

When hope disappears, everything can feel meaningless. The future seems foggy, and dreaming of something better feels pointless—almost absurd.

But listen:
Hope doesn’t have to be big or distant.
And it rarely comes dressed up and ready.

Sometimes, hope starts with something as simple as giving yourself permission to believe that tomorrow might bring something new—something different, another puzzle piece to work with.

Hope can return in small, nearly invisible steps. Maybe it begins with finding just one small thing that brings you joy. A moment of quiet peace watching the sunset. A stranger’s smile on the street. Try looking for drops of hope:

Even if it feels like just a drop in the ocean—remember, that drop contains the whole ocean within it.

Hope can also return through action. When we take small steps toward something that feels meaningful—even if it’s tiny or seemingly insignificant—we start laying the foundation for a renewed sense of direction and ownership in our lives. Maybe it begins with caring for yourself. Or reaching out to someone who cares about you.

Hope can grow through action—not just emotion.
Don’t wait for the right feeling… take a step anyway.

One of the hardest things when we’ve lost hope is to open up to other people—to let them into our painful emotions, not just our thoughts about the pain. That’s how it was for me. It can feel like no one understands what we’re going through. Or we feel ashamed for struggling so deeply. But opening up to someone can be a way out of the darkness. There are people who want to listen, to support you, to walk beside you—even if it doesn’t always feel that way.

We’re not meant to do life alone. And the chances are, others have felt what you’re feeling right now. Invite someone into the terrain you’re walking through. You may discover that what you’re going through is actually quite normal… during an unusually hard season.

Sometimes, we just need to hear someone say they care—or that they believe in us when we’ve lost faith in ourselves. Sharing your thoughts and feelings can be a first step toward rebuilding hope. It doesn’t have to be deep conversations or poetic words. Just having someone by your side when life hurts can make a world of difference.

No feeling—not even hopelessness—lasts forever.

Just like the seasons change, so do the chapters of our lives. We move through times marked by darkness, sorrow, and doubt. And often, it’s precisely through the struggle that we learn the most about ourselves, that we grow, and become stronger than we ever thought possible.

When you feel hopeless, remind yourself that life is constantly changing. Everything is a phase—not a prison.

Even if it seems like the darkness will never end, life has a way of surprising us. New opportunities and new hope will eventually appear again.

Maybe your new hope won’t look like what you hoped for before—but different can still be good…

This takes patience—and trust that you will find the strength to continue, even when you feel like you’ve got nothing left.

Hold on to belief—and be patient—when hope seems to let go of you.

I know it might be irritating—even provoking—to read this. That doesn’t make it any less necessary to say. Again and again. Again and again.

At my lowest point, my little brother once said to me:
“Breathe in. Breathe out. Soon it will be spring…”
It sounded so silly when he said it.
But it became a support, a walking stick for the steps I had to take:
A reminder that a new season always follows the one you’re in.

Hope can be rebuilt.
It may not be easy.
It may take time.
It is possible.

Start by giving yourself permission to feel what you feel—right now. Allow yourself to be vulnerable, to be tired, and to feel worn out by the fight—right now.
But also give yourself the possibility to believe that hope can be found again, even in the smallest moments, and in the strangest places.

Maybe it starts with small things—like finding joy in the everyday, or setting a tiny goal for tomorrow. Maybe it will mean something bigger—like accepting help from someone, or letting yourself dream a little again. No matter where you start, remember:

Hope doesn’t vanish forever.
The sun is never gone—it’s just behind the clouds.

Hope may be faint.
It may be hidden.
But there is always the possibility that it will return.

To you who have stopped hoping: remember, you’re not alone in what you’re going through. Many have felt hopeless—and still found their way back to hope, meaning, and joy.

You’re not so uniquely broken that it should be different for you.

And you are stronger than you think.
Yes, I’m saying it again:
You have no idea how strong you really are—until life tightens its grip.
You are stronger than you think.

When you can’t believe it—borrow someone else’s belief in your future.

Lean on someone else in your uphill.

Open up to someone you trust, and let their experience be a lantern to your next step—when you can’t quite see the ground yourself.

I’m cheering for you. And hey:

“Breathe in. Breathe out. Soon it will be spring…”