How do you teach a pessimist about hope?

Hi kabayan! Your wife is like my mom, always a the pessimist. In times where we also encountered some difficulties, she will always complain and feel low. Once, while watching TV I pointed her to some of the scenes wherein people in slum area are laughing among themselves. I told her, look ma, this people barely have something to eat three times a day and have no roof above their head, and they still find reason to laugh and enjoy life. I hope your wife will realized that there are times that we feel that we are at our lowest moment, but if we look around us there are still people whose situations are very much lower than us and they are surviving well. I hope your wife will learn to trust that after every storm, there's always a rainbow. And as they say, when we are at our lowest, there is no other way but to look up, that is to pray and trust God. Give her inspirational books to read, like the Chicken Soup for the Soul. It will surely uplift her spirit.

That is a tough one. Sometimes you just have to leave a person to their sadness. Hopefully she will come around. I would take her to do things that don't cost money that you did with her in the past that brought her joy. Sometimes the simple little pleasures of life can go a long way. When I am down, I like my feet or back rubbed. It really seems to help. If you don't mind me asking, how long has she been carrying this hopelessness?

Just show your love and cares, but dont be aggresive and dont impose to her your religion. This is something what she must feel in her heart.

Being at a stage of "hopelessness" is one difficult thing. Many of us went through different crises in life. As to your question on how to change your wife's perception regarding the situation that you are into now, maybe we can try -- to make her realize that you're not the only ones experiencing such situation. others have worse situations. -- make her realize that despite the difficult situations, you are still alive and being given the chance to live and be happy. -- you can have a one-on-one talk and ask her what makes her hopeless. even if you know the answer, just ask. just let her talk and just listen. sometimes, by saying all what she feels, she realizes that life is still better. -- if you believe in the sufferings of Christ, Christ did not give up and just endured all the pains. because HE knows that there is the resurrection. And Christ's resurrection is one great example of Hope in out life. We all went through difficult sitatuations, but didn't you realize that at some point things get better? And if we survive difficult situations, we learn to appreaciate more the life we have. Sometimes, we miss to appreciate the goodness of life if we experience ALL good. we have to experience bad times to know the difference between good and bad, happy and sad, positive and negative. I've said too much =) Good luck and take care!