It's often described as a vicious cycle, and so it is.
I have been discouraged this entire semester. I can blame it on a number of different things, but in the end it comes down to the fact that I lacked motivation. As deadlines approached, then passed by, the lethargy led to discouragement. Part of me didn't care enough, but another part of me felt shame. Shame for not caring, shame for not doing the work that I knew I could do. This led to discouragement. As time passed, I continually felt like I was letting down everyone.
I could give other examples from the past few months to show that it hasn't been just school that I feel as if I have let others down, or even let myself down. The real problem with discouragement is that it rarely influences only one aspect of our lives. Rather it spreads from one activity to another, feeding on itself, making us feel more downtrodden as we feel that we have less and less to offer. It is a dangerous malady, and one that affects more people than we would really like to admit.
The answer to discouragement is as simple as it is difficult to follow: get up and do something. Many people think that we should coddle those who are discouraged. This is a bad idea. Discouraged people do not need pity. They may be looking for it, but it is not what they need. They need to know, to believe for themselves that they have worth. To make that happen, you must allow them, force them sometimes to do something worthwhile. Certainly accountability, camaraderie and encouragement are helpful, sometimes necessary tools. But when it comes down to it, they have to do it themselves.
Discouragement is fought with hard work, and to pull yourself up out from discouragement takes patience, strength and determination. Having faith never hurt either. But overcoming fear and beating back discouragement and despair is one of the most rewarding battles you will ever fight.
