Another way to stir up your hope is to have a sense of appreciation. When people begin to think that they are not making progress, their hope is naturally destroyed. The truth is that if you check your life very well you will discover that you have made tremendous progress, you have made some impact and your lie generally has appreciated in some ways, no matter how small. But when you lack a sense of approbation, you are bound to look dejected and unfulfilled and soon you begin to rain condemnation upon your. self. 

A man in this condition goes as far as seeing himself as ‘good for nothing’. He withdraws goodwill from himself so much that he blocks every avenue through which anything good could come his way Even when he has another opportunity to move for-ward, he misses it because he has lost faith in him-self.

I would like you to look around your life, check your records, and you will discover that something good has been added to you. This is how to begin to raise and maintain your hope. Look around for areas of increase in your life and begin to thank the Almighty God for the additions, no matter how little.

Remember, it is small plus small that becomes big. Every addition, no matter how little, is worth appreciating because it can multiply into great substance in the nearest future. That little position that you are privileged to occupy today, maybe as a driver, a clerk or a sales boy, appreciate it, because it is a good starting point for greatness. It would interest you to know that the things that some people have thrown away for lack of appreciation, are the same things that others have picked up and used to become great in life.

Life is a process and it is operated by principles. Many of us want to see lots of things happen in our lives before we can be appreciative or be thankful to God, but that is not the way He operates. If you are able to appreciate one, then God will multiply it to ten or even thousands, because He knows what you will do.

There are people who measure their lives by what they see in others. But, 2 Corinthians 10:12 makes it clear that those who compare themselves with others are simply exhibiting their foolishness. You are free to be inspired and motivated by the lives of oth-ers, but you will only destroy your hope if you begin to compare yourself with them and strive to compete with or out do them. 

When I see people making progress, I examine them and get inspiration from them, but I never compare myself with them, because life is not a game of comparison, it is a game of individuality. Never, you think that if you haven’t achieved as much as your neighbour, friend or colleague then you are a failure. No! You must be able to appreciate the fact that there are factors responsi-be for where he is and that such factors are peculiar to him. There are also other factors that are peculiar to you which will work to your own advantage, progress and success at the right time.

You may be complaining about your crawling busi-ness, but that is still better than complete stagna-tion, because from crawling’ it will graduate into walk-ing. Life is in gradations, it progresses in phases, just as children grow from crawling to walking, and then to running. So, be happy and excited about where you are. Enjoy where you are per time and keep your hope alive!

This text is an extract from the book “CREATING A NEW BEGINNING” written by David O. Abioye. 
We invite you to read the following article “GO AGAIN!“

HAVE A SENSE OF APPRECIATION! HAVE A SENSE OF APPRECIATION!