Is Hope Really a Good Thing?

5 days ago (Edited)

Being optimistic, hope is a rebellion against despair, “a memory of the future”. A tune that never stops at all. But wait, Nietzsche called hope,“the worst of evils, for it prolongs the torment of man.” With both views, one questions: Is hope a comfort or a curse?

I must say, hope is neither innately good nor bad–it’s a mere tool and the real value depends on how we wield it.

Personal Intake

It all started 2 years back after my graduation. Staring at the ceiling at midnight, burdened with lots of thinking, wondering if life will ever feel the same way again. Being honest, those days were full of nihilism. Hope wasn’t just absent, it felt more like a lie told by bunch of people. Everywhere people just come up to me and ask, “What are you up-to? Have you gotten a job? It’s been two years and you haven’t done anything.” Along with the societal pressure, the pressure at home was something else. It felt like my own people are the villain in my life. During this hard journey, I almost became an anti-social. Though, everybody around was concerned, but, I refused to share anything to them.

Somewhere along the way (folks from Reddit helped me) , I learned that hope isn’t all about ignoring the dark (prolonged hope is), it’s about not accepting the dark to say the final words. With bit of positive mindset, I started a new journey. Shift wasn’t a lightning McQueen, it came in pieces. My friends took me on a hike, it felt good so good. I still remember that first shock of cold air. This is the time, I started writing my feelings on Reddit and Facebook. The sole purpose was to be able to express myself, it worked as people came and we shared our moments. I started driving “Bykea (online bike service),” it kept me away from negative thoughts and provided some kitchen income. I, also, am giving time to self-studies: reading books, staying in touch with current affairs, joining study-circles etc. I cook my own meal (though it tastes just okay) instead of ordering. I sometimes play video games, sometimes deliver non-sense, share my laughter with friends and family.

This is all I have been able to achieve in the last 10 months, I had applied to various jobs, but failed. I, still, do get nervous in interviews, maybe because of past shady clouds. And yes, I’m working on it, trying my best to speak. I try to express my authentic views during study sessions and in ‘X Space (former Twitter spaces).’ In the end, I learned that Hope isn’t about perfection or guarantees, it’s about planting a seed and let the soil and environment help you in the process.