Combatting Feelings of Hopelessness

Hopelessness, the severe feelings of disempowerment, despair, and a lack of belief that one’s life circumstances can improve from the current conditions. The feeling of hopelessness often emerges after a significant deprivation or loss, leading to disrupt or negatively impact one's interpretation of their future. As a result, these feelings might lead to a decrease of interest in various activities that often cause more optimistic feelings or enjoyment. In addition, an individual might also lead to a sense of decrease in self-authority or powerlessness, meaning that one does not believe that their presence has insignificant influence on others or their situation. 

For Jung, there existed meaningful coincidences or synchronicity that had an influence on an individual’s psyche. During such an experience, the individual experiences their internal and external world colliding, leading to growth. This phenomenon emerges from Jung’s interest in the ancient Chinese divination process called the I-Ching. In regards to feelings of hopelessness, synchronicity can contribute to a more optimistic perception being developed, through describing events or incidents as meaningful. For example during bereavement, the person experiencing loss or grief can attribute certain incidents as guidance.

During bereavement, the individual experiencing feelings of grief can interpret events or coincidences as synchronicity or meaningful coincidences, which can lead to transpersonal and personal-development. Thus, each stage of the grieving process becomes numinous leading to assistance in the process of bereavement. On the other hand, Jung mentioned that synchronicity was acausal, meaning that each of these events or meaningful coincidences did not operate on cause-and effect. Rather these meaningful coincidences emerged to rupture once repeated patterns, and act as a catalyst for insight, personal transformation or a different perspective.