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About this quote

What does it mean?
Shostakovich suggests that despair indicates a person still holds belief in something.
In plain terms
If you are in despair, you still believe things should be different.
What can you take from it?
Despair proves belief in something better still exists.

Where it applies

  • discussing depression
  • comforting others
  • analyzing emotions

Putting it to work

  • reframe despair as hope
  • acknowledge underlying belief
  • understand emotions

Questions to consider

  • Can despair coexist with hope?
  • What does your despair reveal?

Another view

Some despair may stem from exhaustion rather than belief.

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