Dealing with Feelings of Despair: An Entrepreneurial Perspective
Edmund Burke said, “Never despair, but if you do, work on in despair.” But, what if you don’t have the energy to keep working? What if you’re out of hope and feeling like there’s no point in putting any effort into achieving your goals? What if you feel like everything you do is failing, and it won’t matter whether you work hard, or just tread water? I’ve discovered a way through this, but it’s not easy.
In my experience, despair, depression, and apathy are all the result of one thing: shattered expectations. Entrepreneurs have high expectations. This is good. But your expectations shouldn’t violate the natural laws of the universe. For example, in past podcasts, I talked about The Principles of Faith, Rhythm, and Cause and Effect. These, and the other natural laws which I’ll talk about in future podcasts, connect our actions to causes in the real world.
No one can change this. What we CAN do is consciously align our beliefs and actions with these Principles. I believe this is what Cecil B. DeMille might have meant when he said…
“It is impossible for us to break the law. We can only break ourselves against the law.”
Man-made laws can be broken. But natural laws deliver a consequence in return for all of our actions. When your expectations don’t take these natural principles (aka, laws) into account, it’s only a matter of time before you suffer a devastating failure. This is why I say that expectations that don’t take Natural Law into account are a foreshadowing of despair, depression, and/or apathy.
So, while I agree with Edmund Burke when he said “Never despair, but if you do, work on in despair…” I think we should also examine our expectations, and make sure that they don’t set us in conflict with Natural Principles.
Goals and Progress
- November Income: $822 (November Goal $2,000).
- Bodyweight: 239.2lbs (Goal 185).
- Linkedin Connections: 6,059 (Goal 10,000).