One answer to depression

Several years ago I was in a tough situation which pulled me in a downward emotional spiral.  My thoughts were consistently anxious, confused, and sad.  In an attempt to focus my attention upward rather than down or inward, I started a list of simple things that bring me joy.  Here's a sampling:

* discovering pictures in clouds

* smelling a baby's neck after he/she has been bathed

* having all the laundry folded and put away before any dirty clothes hit the hamper

* the smell of morning coffee

* visiting on our front porch with friends and family

* laughing so hard that tears come

* knowing Bible passages by memory

* cereal for supper

And so I began a pattern of behavior that was intentional about noticing insignificant everyday happenings that were God's way of blessing me.  All I had to do was open my eyes.

My mom recently told me that as a bedtime practice, Dad used to list all the things from that day that he thanked God for.  He said that he always fell asleep before he finished his list, and was at peace knowing that prayers of thanks were on his mind at the end of each day.

My list is now up to 4 pages, and I continue to add to it. What would be on yours? 

Posted on Monday, August 4, 2008 by Gloria Ruppel filed under

1 comment (Add your own)

1. Chris wrote:
Definitely the smell of morning coffee, or coffee anytime, really. Sometimes, I'll have to run an errand in the morning, and I'll return to find that Sonia's made a batch of coffee that has filled the house with its scent. Good stuff.

Honestly, the older I get, the more thankful I get for everyday stuff. I don't deserve to have a bed, a car, clean water out of the tap, air conditioning, food - and my choice of food at that, a shower, music to listen to...but I do get to have all of those things. The vast, VAST majority of the people in the world dream of having such things. They really are blessings, and when I stop to think about them, I feel very thankful.

As far as overcoming depression goes, sometimes good music will take care of it, but often, I resist the urge to distract myself from it. I ask God if there's something He wants me to learn from it, and to give me whatever I need to get through it, whatever's causing it. Often, just trying to focus on the eternal perspective changes how I feel. I remember that there will come a day, thousands of years from now, when I'll wonder why I got so worked up about stuff during this life.

August 22, 2008 @ 10:13 PM

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