top of page

A Long Time to Hope



We are all aware the world is full of toxic waste but the world is also full of Toxic Hope. And

we are not even aware of it, yet it is the far deadlier of the two. We all live in hope to some

extent and we all believe that hope is a positive outlook but is it? Too much hope is pure

poison. This poisoning occurs because hoping does nothing except keep you hanging on.

Endlessly, in some cases. The longer the duration of hoping, the more toxic it becomes

due to the emotions draining away like sludge down a pipe. But still we keep on hoping.

And praying. But nothing changes. And toxicity of the soul is the result. It is a disease and

it is rampant.

We all have friends (or family) and we have seen them experience relationship troubles

and watched as the hoping begins in earnest. They hope for some magical improvement

or wonderful change in their partner. And we all fall into this same toxic trap due to money

difficulties or when we have taken the wrong direction and can’t find our way back. We

hope, without even knowing we are doing it. Some definitions of hope: “reasonable

grounds for this feeling;” “wish for a future event;” “there is still hope”. Hopeful is defined

as “giving or inspiring hope” or “on the brink of success”. When there is absolutely no hope

we still remain hopeful.

Perhaps the most important step you can take when you sense that you are living in false

hope is simply to analyse the extent of your hoping as well as noting the time frame. If you

have been hoping for over 2 years then the toxicity is well and truly bubbling away and

slowly destroying your life.

Do you identify with any of these scenarios?

Hoping he (or she) will stop their heavy drinking.

Hoping my weight gain will stop.

Hoping he or she will stop being so aggressive or angry.

Hoping I’ll find that perfect job with a huge salary.

Hoping the gambling will stop and we’ll save some money

Rather than “living in hope” for years and years as some people do, you would be much

better off accepting that the situation is “HOPELESS” (“unable to learn or function’’) and

make some drastic changes. If you don’t, toxic hope will permanently poison you. But if

you ascertain the situation is horrible and you have suffered long enough then make the

changes. Painful it may be but it won’t kill you. The simple rule is: the longer the hoping

has endured, the greater the poison.

We have a friend who hoped and prayed for 9 years while her husband drank and

gambled their savings away. In all that time she hoped he would change. A classic case of

Toxic Hope. They lost their house. Lost hope. He wouldn’t (couldn’t) change. You have to

change the situation. You. The only thing you have control over is you. Make those

changes. And HOPE it works!


John A Wilson, August 2013

Comentarios


bottom of page