When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.

Franklin D. Roosevelt said this quote during his 1932 presidential campaign and repeated by many speakers.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) was the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 to 1945, who led America through a great depression and World War II while implementing new economic measures to help restore hope and prosperity to the people.

Everyone will encounter a difficult time in their life and there are moments when things just won’t go our way. These tough times may cause us to feel sad, lonely, lost, afraid, and unsure of moving forward on our journey. And many of us tend to give up when hard times come.

This quote is a call to action for us when things are tough:

1. When you reach the end of your rope – this is when hope has been exhausted, and you may be inclined to give up and quit.

2. Tie a knot in it and hang on – this is the moment when hopelessness is cut off, and a renewing of hope is being reestablished.

Reestablishing Hope

The physical and mental effects of feeling hopeful can be exhilarating. A few steps to restore hope will help you feel hopeful again once implemented. Here are seven ways to reestablish your hope:

1. Define your why. Defining your why helps to define your purpose. This will be inspirational not only to you but to others.

2. Focus on the good. Creating a vision board is a great way to focus on what’s good in your life. One side of your board can be your current state – things that you have right now that are good about your life. The second half of the board will be your desired state – things that you still want and are working towards. Look at this board every day and focus on your current and desired state wants.

3. Be grateful. Take out three to five minutes a day to write what you’re thankful for and go back and read it at the end of each week.

4. Be patient. Being patient and kind to yourself means taking the time you need to grow and fully restore your hope. This may not happen overnight but be patient and know that you are on your journey.

5. Stay strong. Reach out to people who are part of your tribe that may have overcome a tough time and talk about what they have gone through and how they restored hope. Read books and stories of people who have overcome extenuating odds. This will help you to stay strong and keep the course.

6. Keep score. Keep score each week of the good things you have accomplished. Review the list at the end of each month so that you can see all the great things you have accomplished.

7. Remain true to yourself. Listen to your inner voice. When something feels off or goes against who you are, it will feel uncomfortable. When it feels good to you on the inside, and you feel happy and exhilarated, it’s good for you. Follow the good feelings and remain faithful to what feels good to you.