user17034: How do those who have experienced multiple, profound-negative events, and/or long periods of extreme hardship muster up the will to continue on the path, or even to try to live a morally-upright life when one feels absolutely certain that any effort towards skillful thoughts/actions is only a short-term project that will only be demolished in the near future anyway?  

user295: 
Manage your expectations

This can be done at 3 levels: perception (sanna), though (citta), View (ditti)
1st start with views. These are what has been ingrained due to continuous thinking. Look at what is attainable and cut on things you cannot achieve in the current situation.
When thinking about something unattainable or hurtful if there is nothing you can do about it let go of it.
If you perceive as it is good to have this or that at this juncture let go of it.

Immunise your mind by developing wisdom

When you practice as follows, you can overcome the hurtful feeling arising in hard times. Doing meditation one can find a permanent lasting solution than a temporary one.

If he feels a pleasant feeling,

he understands that it is impermanent;
he understands that it is not to be clung to;
he understands that there is no delight in it.

If he feels a painful feeling,

he understands that it is impermanent;
he understands that it is not to be clung to;
he understands that there is no delight in it.

If he feels a neutral feeling,

he understands that it is impermanent;
he understands that it is not to be clung to;
he understands that there is no delight in it.

If he feels a pleasant feeling, he feels it in a detached manner.
If he feels a painful feeling, he feels it in a detached manner.
If he feels a neutral feeling, he feels it in a detached manner.

Dhātu Vibhaṅga Sutta
From merely the above description it is difficult to perceive the practice. You can take a course in meditation to learn the practice:

https://www.dhamma.org/en/index
http://www.internationalmeditationcentre.org/global/index.html
http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/


user17036: Nothing matters in the big picture. Look at the big picture. You will realize it for yourself. Once, you have realized the big picture, practicing just being will become easy. 
But the hard wiring will fight just being. The big picture is the software. It doesn't get translated into hardware in one go. The hardware doesn't understand the big picture. It is geared towards survival. The big picture will gradually seep into hardware with regular effort and practice. 
You have to put some sort of alert. Maybe a periodic thinking routine, a vibrator on your hand, or something else that keeps you jolting out of it. If things don't fall in place, get in touch with me. I have been through some difficult times myself but managed to land on my feet. 

user43: What I discovered only a few years ago, after 25 years of practicing Dharma...is that when things get really rough, it works best to get into absolute here-and-now mode.
Meaning, I don't think about my situation, don't compare, don't analyze, just live one step at a time, one breath at a time, do what's obviously required at the moment, and that's it.
This puts me in pure suchness. Things are such and not otherwise. There's no judgement on my side, nor longing for things to be otherwise. There's just suchness.
When you are fully in this mode, it is actually quite peaceful, despite the rough situation. Suchness is peaceful, because it is just so. There's no conflict in my attitude to it. I am just such, and I do what I do, at the moment.
It is actually a very advanced state, suchness. No need to practice anything else. To be in full peace, without inner conflict, despite the circumstances - is quite an achievement. 

17034: <p>How do those who have experienced multiple, profound-negative events, and/or long periods of extreme hardship muster up the will to continue on the path, or even to try to live a morally-upright life when one feels absolutely certain that any effort towards skillful thoughts/actions is only a short-term project that will only be demolished in the near future anyway?  </p>
 295: <ol>
<li><strong>Manage your expectations</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>This can be done at 3 levels: perception (sanna), though (citta), View (ditti)</p>
<p>1st start with views. These are what has been ingrained due to continuous thinking. Look at what is attainable and cut on things you cannot achieve in the current situation.</p>
<p>When thinking about something unattainable or hurtful if there is nothing you can do about it let go of it.</p>
<p>If you perceive as it is good to have this or that at this juncture let go of it.</p>
<ol start="2">
<li><strong>Immunise your mind by developing wisdom</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>When you practice as follows, you can overcome the hurtful feeling arising in hard times. Doing meditation one can find a permanent lasting solution than a temporary one.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If he feels a pleasant feeling,</p>
<ul>
<li>he understands that it is impermanent;</li>
<li>he understands that it is not to be clung to;</li>
<li>he understands that there is no delight in it.</li>
</ul>
<p>If he feels a painful feeling,</p>
<ul>
<li>he understands that it is impermanent;</li>
<li>he understands that it is not to be clung to;</li>
<li>he understands that there is no delight in it.</li>
</ul>
<p>If he feels a neutral feeling,</p>
<ul>
<li>he understands that it is impermanent;</li>
<li>he understands that it is not to be clung to;</li>
<li>he understands that there is no delight in it.</li>
</ul>
<p>If he feels a pleasant feeling, he feels it in a detached manner.</p>
<p>If he feels a painful feeling, he feels it in a detached manner.</p>
<p>If he feels a neutral feeling, he feels it in a detached manner.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/4.17-Dhatu-Vibhanga-S-m140-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Dhātu Vibhaṅga Sutta</a></p>
<p>From merely the above description it is difficult to perceive the practice. You can take a course in meditation to learn the practice:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.dhamma.org/en/index" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.dhamma.org/en/index</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.internationalmeditationcentre.org/global/index.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.internationalmeditationcentre.org/global/index.html</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/</a></li>
</ul>
 17036: <p>Nothing matters in the big picture. Look at the big picture. You will realize it for yourself. Once, you have realized the big picture, practicing just being will become easy. </p>

<p>But the hard wiring will fight just being. The big picture is the software. It doesn't get translated into hardware in one go. The hardware doesn't understand the big picture. It is geared towards survival. The big picture will gradually seep into hardware with regular effort and practice. </p>

<p>You have to put some sort of alert. Maybe a periodic thinking routine, a vibrator on your hand, or something else that keeps you jolting out of it. If things don't fall in place, get in touch with me. I have been through some difficult times myself but managed to land on my feet. </p>
 43: <p>What I discovered only a few years ago, after 25 years of practicing Dharma...is that when things get really rough, it works best to get into absolute here-and-now mode.</p>

<p>Meaning, I don't think about my situation, don't compare, don't analyze, just live one step at a time, one breath at a time, do what's obviously required at the moment, and that's it.</p>

<p>This puts me in pure suchness. Things are such and not otherwise. There's no judgement on my side, nor longing for things to be otherwise. There's just suchness.</p>

<p>When you are fully in this mode, it is actually quite peaceful, despite the rough situation. Suchness is peaceful, because it is just so. There's no conflict in my attitude to it. I am just such, and I do what I do, at the moment.</p>

<p>It is actually a very advanced state, suchness. No need to practice anything else. To be in full peace, without inner conflict, despite the circumstances - is quite an achievement. </p>
