I don’t blame anyone for arriving at the conclusion that “the future looks very dim.” In light of everything happening in the world today, a pessimistic outlook isn’t just understandable—it’s rational. But rationality alone won’t carry us forward. At some point, we need to reach beyond reason. Instead of clinging solely to rationality, I propose we also make space for the irrational, the illogical, even the unreasonable—by placing faith in hopeful visions of the future.
In this brief piece, I’m stepping away from reason and toward something more primal, something irrational but deeply human. Rather than remain shackled to bleak narratives, I dare you, the reader, to take on the most difficult yet most important task of all: finding hope.
Lately, I’ve come to believe that this heavy fog of pessimism is poisoning the human spirit. I’m not suggesting we delude ourselves into thinking everything is fine. But equally, I believe it’s better to choose a hopeful interpretation than to surrender to despair.
Endlessly glued to our devices, we scroll through a deluge of content that quietly drags us toward collective dread. Every day, we’re confronted with the possibility of annihilation. The unspoken question of our time seems to be: Will our end come at our own hands? Nuclear war, cyber warfare, ecological collapse, AI rebellion—take your pick. Or perhaps we’ll simply be undone by our hubris, and nature will take back what we’ve overstepped.
All this doom and gloom is exhausting. Truly. And while it would be naïve to ignore these monumental threats, I find it just as irrational—perhaps even absurd—to keep pouring energy into chronic worry. Worry takes us elsewhere—into a mental space that is distant, distorted, and false. Rather than inhabit the present moment, we lease our minds to imagined catastrophes. Bent by perception and manipulated by constant exposure to doom-laden media, we build a warped view of the world, reinforced by “expert” pundits, catchy headlines, and comment sections.
Whether those voices are right or wrong isn’t my concern. I don’t think we need more geopolitical takes or moral judgments. What I do care about is reframing my own outlook, choosing to envision a hopeful future.
There is still hope. For you, for me, for all of us. We are not broken or damned. We are, at worst, lost. Dazed by the noise and overwhelmed by the complexities of modern life. But to cultivate personal hope in times like these? That’s a radical act. That’s rebellion.
When I speak of a hopeful future, I’m not talking about blind optimism or utopian fantasy. I’m not even offering answers—because honestly, I don’t have any. I don’t know if we’ll make it through this tense era. I wouldn’t pretend to understand anyone else’s pain, or even always be able to make sense of my own.
But despite all that, I choose hope. Hope is a refusal to give up. It is not ignoring the darkness but accepting it and choosing to walk towards the light. As Desmond Tutu puts it, “hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness”.
Yes, we could all do better. We’ve made a mess of many things. But why should that mean giving up? Why shouldn’t I believe that I—and others—can contribute something good? What’s gained from constant cynicism? What’s achieved through surrendering to fear, anxiety and despair?
Please, hold on to hope. Don’t let it slip away. The world needs you more than ever. Keep going. Keep imagining a brighter future. And maybe—just maybe—it will come. The future hasn’t been written yet. And we- the people of today— are the ones who will write it.
by JD