Living in the now - I know this sounds strange, but so often we dwell on what has happened or what could happen! If you dwell on what has happened, you're living in the past and can't seem to let things go. Maybe they are not negative things , just things you're constantly remembering, your memories. This is fabulous, but , be careful that this is the only place you're dwelling. It's important to feel comfortable with what is happening around us on a daily basis.
If you think too much about the past, your memories, you will not always have your wits about you in your everyday life. Opportunites might pass you by, friends might start to overlook you and you become increasingly isolated. All this will increase your depressive state. If your memories are not good, well, obviously you will then keep yourself locked in your depression , trapped by your mind.
If you are planning too far ahead by worrying about what could happen, well then , you are also not present. The exact same thing happens to you. You are so focused ahead of yourself that you miss the important events that are happening right now. The worrying clogs your brain functioning, causing you to become overwhelmed and highly stressed . All this will naturally affect your mental health.
The Present: Stay focused on what is happening as it happens. When you are riding a bike, just concentrate on that and look around you enjoying it- think of nothing else. When cooking, only think of that. Refer to my previous post on Multi tasking, this give more info.
The Past: The past is important as it is from this that we learn and move forward in life. Take lessons from your past, be aware of what you've learned, but then try to let them go. If it has not served you well in the past, it will not serve you well in the future.
The Future: Planning ahead is very organized for certain events, like a wedding or party etc, but worrying about future events is energy sapping. Try to be aware of your thoughts of the future. Are you planning constructively or worrying?
I hope you will try to live in the present - it helps to keep you grounded and focused for your daily living.
Take care
Deb
23 March 2011
Hope in the midst of Depression
In this world that we live in, there are so many tragic events. If we dwell on these tragic events in life, we begin to question life and its purpose- we begin to lose hope.
As a person suffering with depression, it is particularly important to view each day as a new beginning. As you wake up in the morning, picture all the emotional stuff that you had from the day before , being wiped off the slate and now you begin again- from a clean slate.
That is the beauty of life, there is a new beginning when the sun rises each day. Each day we have another chance at making our world a beautiful place to be. Each day we get another chance to change something that we don't like or want in our lives. Each day is fresh, is new and filled with hope.
When you're in the midst of depression, hope begins to fade. When you wake up each day, you feel a sense of dread and heaviness. It is important to recognise this feeling and know that only you can change it to create a better place for yourself. Here are some tips to help brighten your morning with hope:
1. As you wake, give thanks (doesn't have to be to God) for something that you enjoy in your life eg that you can walk, see, hear, have a great child, have a home.....etc
2. When you've got your morning drink, have a look outside and notice the leaves, branches, birds around. If there's ice on the ground, notice the sparkles, if there's dew, notice the glimmer.
3. Take time during the day, to stop. When you stop, notice nature around you and enjoy it.
4. When you can, take a walk to the park, down the street, or just sit in your back garden. Learn to look outside of yourself, it is by doing this that you'll learn to stop analyzing everything that you do!
Let's build hope together in this crazy world, for without it, there is nothing.
Have a great week.
Take care
Deb
As a person suffering with depression, it is particularly important to view each day as a new beginning. As you wake up in the morning, picture all the emotional stuff that you had from the day before , being wiped off the slate and now you begin again- from a clean slate.
That is the beauty of life, there is a new beginning when the sun rises each day. Each day we have another chance at making our world a beautiful place to be. Each day we get another chance to change something that we don't like or want in our lives. Each day is fresh, is new and filled with hope.
When you're in the midst of depression, hope begins to fade. When you wake up each day, you feel a sense of dread and heaviness. It is important to recognise this feeling and know that only you can change it to create a better place for yourself. Here are some tips to help brighten your morning with hope:
1. As you wake, give thanks (doesn't have to be to God) for something that you enjoy in your life eg that you can walk, see, hear, have a great child, have a home.....etc
2. When you've got your morning drink, have a look outside and notice the leaves, branches, birds around. If there's ice on the ground, notice the sparkles, if there's dew, notice the glimmer.
3. Take time during the day, to stop. When you stop, notice nature around you and enjoy it.
4. When you can, take a walk to the park, down the street, or just sit in your back garden. Learn to look outside of yourself, it is by doing this that you'll learn to stop analyzing everything that you do!
Let's build hope together in this crazy world, for without it, there is nothing.
Have a great week.
Take care
Deb
10 March 2011
Letting go....
It has come to my attention that there are many people out there, who just can't let things go!! It may be something big or small, it doesn't matter, the point is that if you don't release it, it will rule you and affect your mental state contributing to an increasing depression.
We are not always aware of the fact that we are harbouring thoughts about someone who has wronged us - in our eyes. We think we have moved on but find ourselves discussing the issue with many friends repeatedly. Have a think....... has this happened to you recently? Do you find yourself speaking ill of someone in particular , frequently?
Letting go is not as easy as it sounds. It is something that only you can do and is totally controlled by you and the way you react to situations. Here are some tips for letting go:
1. Acknowledge that you are repeatedly refering to a situation and carrying around bad feelings about it.
2. Purchase a 'letting go' book, which is a blank book for you to write in. It is here that you are going to write about all the bad feelings you feel and everything that you want to do. It will probably not be reading for anyone other than yourself!!
3. Every day, several times a day, whenever you have thoughts of anger or irritation about this person or situation, you need to write it down in the book. Instead of repeating yourself to those around you, you are now going to remain silent on the issue and only write about it.
4. This is a process , which means it will take some time, but eventually you'll find you write in there less and less because the issue diminishes in importance. You are beginning to let go..
Letting go is of incredible importance to our mental state. If we hold onto past hurts, angers, irritations and grievances, we keep all the resentments inside us. It is all this that can fester and assist in causing dis-eases like cancer. Be aware of how you feel towards those who are close to you and repair any grievances.
By letting go, you will bring more peace into your life and chase away the cobwebs of depression.
May the week ahead be one where you release the hurts and begin to see life as a wonderful place again.
Take care till next time..
Deb
We are not always aware of the fact that we are harbouring thoughts about someone who has wronged us - in our eyes. We think we have moved on but find ourselves discussing the issue with many friends repeatedly. Have a think....... has this happened to you recently? Do you find yourself speaking ill of someone in particular , frequently?
Letting go is not as easy as it sounds. It is something that only you can do and is totally controlled by you and the way you react to situations. Here are some tips for letting go:
1. Acknowledge that you are repeatedly refering to a situation and carrying around bad feelings about it.
2. Purchase a 'letting go' book, which is a blank book for you to write in. It is here that you are going to write about all the bad feelings you feel and everything that you want to do. It will probably not be reading for anyone other than yourself!!
3. Every day, several times a day, whenever you have thoughts of anger or irritation about this person or situation, you need to write it down in the book. Instead of repeating yourself to those around you, you are now going to remain silent on the issue and only write about it.
4. This is a process , which means it will take some time, but eventually you'll find you write in there less and less because the issue diminishes in importance. You are beginning to let go..
Letting go is of incredible importance to our mental state. If we hold onto past hurts, angers, irritations and grievances, we keep all the resentments inside us. It is all this that can fester and assist in causing dis-eases like cancer. Be aware of how you feel towards those who are close to you and repair any grievances.
By letting go, you will bring more peace into your life and chase away the cobwebs of depression.
May the week ahead be one where you release the hurts and begin to see life as a wonderful place again.
Take care till next time..
Deb
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