Reflection: Maintaining hope for the long war

What leads to feelings of discouragement, for you?

For me, it’s often the result of feeling bad about one thing, which leads to feeling bad about other things, which combine to make it all seem difficult or hopeless. My viewpoint has become discouraged, so everything looks like it supports that. I feel overwhelmed, and wonder why I should bother with those things I need to do. It’s not a logical state, but feelings influencing thoughts - one of those times when a friend would see things quite differently - more objectively, while I’m caught up in my emotionally-induced state.

What’s the solution to feeling this way?

I’m sure that, by now, you’ve developed ways to deal with discouragement and get on with what’s needed. I’m going to just offer a reminder and some reflection to help, since we do really need those regular, repeated insertions of encouragement to combat it. Think of this as your friend, recalling you to clarity when you need it.

Conserve your strength

Sun Tzu, the Chinese military philosopher, cautioned his readers to conserve their strength by being sensible in how much they attempted at a time. His lesson is that we need to take heart in our daily victories, so as not to lose enthusiasm and strength – not because those little victories are enough, on their own, and all you should settle for, but so you maintain hope and joy for the long war.

If I can feel grateful each day for what I could do and experience, I’ll have courage for the rest. If not, I’ll see no rewards and think only of my end goal, so far in the future it’s shrouded in mist.

So: be grateful for today. Be grateful you lived, laughed, loved, served, learnt… breathed. That is good. Remember, God surveyed each period of creation, and saw that it was good. He was content for that effort and result – each step, not just the completed creation. This is a model for us. Yes, we want so much, and aim for so much; but here, today, is also enough, for now. Observe what you did, what happened, and what you learnt. Plan for tomorrow. Don’t take it all on in your mind – our finite minds can’t process that effectively, so it makes us feel worried and uncertain. It doesn’t lead to dealing with it; instead, it leads to inaction. (A major reason for procrastation, the topic of today’s resource – below).

Each day leads to the end goal – not just, or even most, the things that happen, but who you become. The steps matter; the little things matter; you are making the journey. We need daily victories. In Sun Tzu’s battle analogy, at the end of each day of hard campaigning – risking one’s life, scouting the enemy’s path, preparing for the next battle – there is still singing around the campfire, not only when a great victory has been won.

On Instagram

Daily victories

The ‘perpetual presence of the sublime’

Resource: It’s probably not laziness - 4 reasons you’re really procrastinating

Article and Infographic

These resources are from This Way Up, which provides internet-based CBT programs out of St. Vincent’s Hospital in NSW.

The article explains a bit about 4 main reasons for procrastination - perfectionism, low motivation (clearly! The section provides ways to combat this), discomfort or boredom with the task, and fear of failure. It offers tips for overcoming each of these obstacles, based on CBT (questioning thoughts, considering other options, and making it easier for yourself to do something).

If you don’t want to read an article, and prefer just the highlights, there’s also an infographic, with main points and action steps.

Challenge

This week, take heart in daily victories. However small they seem, however much they’re not like the victories you wanted to have, welcome them. They are leading you to the goal. Don’t try to take it all on – your whole life, all eternity, or everyone and everything! Conserve your strength and maintain your enthusiasm for the long war. ✊