According to Merriam-Webster, one of the definitions of hope is: “desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment.” According to the Bible, hope is a confident expectation and a desire for something good in the future. That means we not only desire for that good thing, but we expect it.

An example that comes to mind for me is that I hope someday there will be a cure for fibromyalgia. I know that I’m not alone in that hope, and I chose not to give up on it.

Hope can be a strong catalyst for dealing with this illness that has already taken so much from us. I know that if I begin to lose hope for a better future, I become depressed more easily. Depression is like a caterpillar in a cocoon thinking that this is all there is. Hope is when that beautiful butterfly breaks free of the cocoon and sees there is a whole new world out there.

Yes, it sucks having fibromyalgia, but when we can begin to find some good in our lives in spite of it, we keep hope alive. Sometimes to maintain that hope we may need to cut certain activities and people out of our lives. We should also add things and people into our lives that keep the spark of joy alive. For me, that means unfriending people on social media who are negative. I find that little things can bring me great joy. Watching the birds and other wildlife from my bedroom window, indulging in a favorite sweet treat, going for a walk with my husband, and watching my silly cat play.

My faith in God is a catalyst for me in keeping hope alive in my life. At times, I feel that hope is nowhere to be found. I recall earlier moments when I would cry and tell my husband that I just wanted my life back! But wishing for it didn’t make it so, so I had to find a way to be at peace with my illness. Having hope doesn’t mean that life is happy all the time. It certainly is not, but I can consciously choose to be hopeful. 

I know that we’re all in different places in our fibro journey, and we all experience our symptoms to different and varying degrees. We come from different backgrounds, and all of those factors play into our abilities to keep hope alive. I would like to encourage you to keep positive quotes, scripture verses, or affirmations close at hand to refer to often. Because once you lose hope it can be very difficult to get it back.

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Note: Fibromyalgia News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Fibromyalgia News Today, or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to fibromyalgia.