Choosing Hope in Uncertain Times: Lessons on Resilience and Renewal
Uncertainty is something we all face. Whether it comes from personal struggles, unexpected setbacks, or the turbulence of the world around us, life rarely unfolds in a straight line. Yet in the midst of hardship, we also find moments of clarity—small sparks that remind us that even when the road is unclear, there is a way forward.
This is a story about learning to live in hope amid uncertainty, about the resilience that emerges when pain is met with presence, and about the strength that is found not by denying life’s struggles but by embracing them as part of the human journey.
A Beginning Shaped by Uncertainty
In 1986, a 17-year-old student arrived in America from Bangladesh with only $700, a suitcase, and dreams far larger than his circumstances. He spoke little English, knew no one, and had no safety net. Life was heavy with uncertainty, but within that weight lay the seeds of resilience.
At Southern Illinois University, he studied engineering during the day and worked as a janitor at night. Those graveyard shifts were humbling. Scrubbing marble floors in offices where important decisions were made, he felt the gap between where he stood and where he wanted to be.
One evening, his elderly supervisor offered advice that would become a guiding mantra: “Be one with the floor.” At first, the words seemed odd, almost humorous. But over time, their meaning deepened. Focusing on each sweep of the mop brought a kind of mindfulness—quieting the fear of tomorrow by anchoring in the present moment.
This lesson became the first cornerstone of resilience: clarity and purpose can be found even in the most ordinary tasks when you choose presence over fear.
When Rejection Tries to Define You
For many of us, rejection feels like the end of the story. For this young student, rejection was a recurring companion. At the University of Minnesota Duluth, a department chair bluntly declared: “You are not the kind of material who will ever become an engineer.” The words stung. But instead of surrendering, he turned rejection into fuel.
While still a student, he built his first commercial software and hardware product. It wasn’t perfect, but it caught the attention of a local company and led to employment. Rejection, he discovered, is not a verdict on your worth but a fleeting opinion.
Years later, rejection surfaced again—this time in entrepreneurship. Investors removed him from the very company he founded, claiming he wasn’t “growing fast enough.” They even took ownership of his manuscript. The loss was crushing, yet he rose again, launching a new venture and writing another book.
The second cornerstone of resilience is this: rejection does not end your story; it redirects it. Every “no” can become a signpost to a different and often better path.
Life’s Cruelest Surprise
In 2021, as the world struggled to rebuild after the pandemic, life delivered a devastating blow: his only son, a college freshman, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer.
Nothing prepares a parent for news like this. It shatters assumptions of stability and control. Yet in that unimaginable pain, he witnessed his son’s calm and courage. His son’s resilience became a mirror, reminding him that strength is not about denying suffering but about learning to live with it.
Grief, when met with presence, can ignite purpose. His son’s diagnosis reshaped his perspective and his work. He poured energy into raising awareness and supporting research for multiple myeloma, transforming heartbreak into a force for service.
This formed the third cornerstone of resilience: adversity can break us—or it can expand us. When suffering is turned into purpose, it becomes a source of enduring strength.
What Hope Really Means
Too often, hope is mistaken for blind optimism—a smile that denies pain or a belief that things will magically improve. True hope is different. It is not passive. It is not naïve.
Hope is a practice. It is the decision to take one more step, even when the path ahead is foggy.
Psychologists describe hope as a process of setting meaningful goals, identifying pathways to reach them, and believing in your own ability to act. This framework echoes life’s lessons:
When ventures failed, progress began not with rebuilding everything at once but with one small step—a phone call, a proposal, a page in a manuscript.
When grief struck, hope meant sitting with the pain but still choosing to move forward, however slowly.
Hope is less about seeing the whole road and more about having the courage to take the next step.
Five Practices That Sustain Hope
From janitor to entrepreneur, from rejection to advocacy, from devastating loss to renewal, five practices consistently sustained this journey—and they can sustain yours too:
1. Anchor in the Present
The advice “be one with the floor” still resonates. Mindfulness quiets fear and allows us to find clarity even in chaos.
2. Reframe Rejection
Rejection is not a reflection of your worth but a redirection toward new opportunities.
3. Start Small
A mountain is climbed step by step. Even the smallest action builds momentum and restores hope.
4. Find Purpose in Adversity
Link your challenges to something larger than yourself—whether advocacy, service, or creativity. Purpose transforms suffering into strength.
5. Lean on Others
Resilience isn’t built in isolation. Mentors, friends, and community provide safety nets that carry us when we can’t carry ourselves.
Hope as a Lifeline
In a world shaken by economic instability, health crises, political division, and climate anxiety, hope is not a luxury. It is a lifeline.
Hope doesn’t erase hardship, but it reframes it. It transforms obstacles into opportunities and pain into possibility. Hope teaches us to sit with uncertainty, to embrace ambiguity, and to trust that meaning can emerge even in chaos.
It is courage in motion, born from setbacks, and sustained by the belief that tomorrow can hold more than today’s suffering.
Bringing It Back to You
Uncertainty touches all of us. Maybe for you it’s a stalled career, a fractured relationship, or the constant barrage of political stress and division. Maybe it’s the quiet ache of loneliness or the heaviness of the world’s headlines.
Instead of rushing to find immediate answers, consider what would happen if you allowed yourself to sit with the discomfort. Let it teach you. Then ask: What’s one small, unexpected action I can take today?
Sketch an idea.
Call a friend.
Write down a dream.
Speak your truth out loud.
Hope often begins not with a breakthrough but with a whisper—the audacity to create light in the dark.
A Gentle Reminder
You don’t have to carry uncertainty or stress alone.
Walk With Me Counseling Center in Chicago, Illinois, is here to help if you’re overwhelmed by election stress, political disagreements, or simply the weight of uncertainty in your personal life. We offer virtual therapy sessions across Illinois, so support is just a click away—whether you’re in Chicago or anywhere else in the state.
Complete our Intake Form today and take the first step toward protecting your mental health during this intense election season.
Your well-being should be your top priority. Don’t let political stress, rejection, or uncertainty take a greater toll on your relationships and peace of mind. Whether you’re in Chicago or elsewhere in Illinois, we’re here to walk with you as you find hope, resilience, and healing.
