Depression is the inability to construct a future.

In the poignant words of Rollo May, "Depression is the inability to construct a future," we are reminded of the profound weight that the loss of hope can place on the human soul. Depression, in its most debilitating form, is not simply a state of sorrow or despair but a paralysis of vision—a cessation of the ability to dream, to imagine, and to build the life that lies ahead. When we can no longer envision a future, we are trapped in the present—not as a moment of living, but as a moment of limitation. This loss of hope is a silent thief that robs us of the power to move forward, to shape our destiny, and to see the possibilities that tomorrow might hold.

The ancients understood the transformative power of vision in shaping the future. Socrates, in his constant quest for truth, believed that to live a meaningful life, one must always be guided by a vision of the good and the possible. For Socrates, the future was not an abstract concept but something that could be shaped by each action in the present. In contrast, those who lacked this vision, who could not see beyond the present moment, were often consumed by despair and meaninglessness. Socrates knew that the ability to construct a future, to move forward with purpose, was essential for the soul to find peace.

Consider the story of Homer’s Odysseus, who, after ten years of war, was lost and adrift. His body had returned home, but his soul was still ensnared by the longing for the future, for the homecoming and the life that awaited him. Despite the endless obstacles and temptations on his journey, Odysseus’ resolve never wavered because he always had a vision—an image of Ithaca, of the home and family he longed for. His future was his guiding star, keeping him focused even when all seemed lost. The man who cannot see the future, as Rollo May suggests, is a man without a guiding star, lost in the dark. Odysseus’ journey teaches us that the future, no matter how far off or obscured by hardship, gives us the strength to endure the trials of the present.

Rollo May’s insight into depression and the inability to construct a future also echoes the struggles of Nelson Mandela. Imprisoned for 27 years, Mandela faced a future that seemed impossibly bleak. Yet, even in the face of overwhelming darkness, he never lost sight of the vision of a free South Africa. His determination to construct a future for his people, a future rooted in freedom and equality, sustained him throughout his imprisonment. Mandela’s ability to envision this future—though it was distant and uncertain—became the foundation of his resistance, his strength, and his ultimate triumph. His story exemplifies the truth that hope and the ability to imagine a better tomorrow are what sustain us through the most trying times.

To understand Rollo May’s quote, we need to recognize that depression is not simply sadness; it is the loss of hope, the inability to see beyond the present moment. The person who suffers from depression is trapped in a closed world, where the future appears as an insurmountable void. The ancients often spoke of the importance of the mind and spirit working in harmony, of the need to stay grounded in the present while also nurturing a vision for the future. Aristotle believed that our ability to achieve eudaimonia—or a flourishing life—was intrinsically linked to our capacity to act with purpose, driven by a vision of what we hope to become. Without this vision, life becomes an endless cycle of reaction rather than creation.

The lesson here is clear: to be human is to have a vision, a dream, a future to strive for. Depression, at its core, is the absence of this vision, the inability to move forward because we can no longer see what lies ahead. Without a future, we lose our sense of direction and purpose, and the present becomes a burden rather than a blessing. We are called not just to endure, but to create—to cultivate a vision for our lives and the world that we wish to build. Hope is the bridge between where we are and where we want to go, and it is the act of building that future that gives meaning to the present.

In practical terms, we must all strive to cultivate a vision for our future, no matter how uncertain or distant it may seem. Even in moments of hardship, we can find strength by imagining a future filled with possibility. Whether that future is defined by personal growth, relationship building, or the betterment of society, it is the vision of what could be that empowers us to take the next step. Let us remember that hope is not passive—it is an active force that requires work, commitment, and resilience. By constructing a future in our minds, we empower ourselves to move through the present with purpose and direction. Let us each build our future, not out of despair, but out of the faith that what is to come is ours to shape.