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Showing posts from June 10, 2018

Where Can You Find a 'Re-Store' for Depression? Part One

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Do you have a 'Habitat for Humanity Re-Store' in your community? They are great things, kind of like thrift shops for renovators. We are  big on 'RE' words in this culture. "Recycle, re-use, re-purpose, restore, reboot" are all words used more now than ever before. Good words! To take a situation or an object, and use it again in a new and different way is a great idea. To take a situation, or an object, or a person, and see that it has still got some value is a noble exercise. How about you? Do you feel you still have value, purpose, usefulness, potential? Or do you need restoring, rebooting, recycling ?

Gaining New Perspective: Part Three

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Another way to gain new perspective for me, which works every time, is reading, and in my personal case, reading my bible. Oh I know the bible is a little hard to understand for many of us, but I find if I persevere, and keep reading until I find one phrase or sentence to help me change my thinking, then it is well worth the effort. Here is one of my favourite scriptures, it always gives me a lift. It is from the old testament of the bible, Deuteronomy 31:6.  "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified... for the Lord your God  goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you."   What a promise, a promise which I believe with all of my heart. Knowing God is with me gives me comfort. Comfort gives me strength, strength to aim for some new perspective.

Gaining New Perspective: Part Two

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We are chatting about gaining new perspective for your depression journey. Why do you need new perspective? To give you hope that you won't always feel depressed, to give you hope that maybe a new idea will shed new light on an old problem. That's what these two friends portrayed in the photo above are doing - they are giving each other new perspective just by listening to each other. Last time I shared a photo of a magnificent view and I related that amazing sight to the idea of gaining new perspective. The truth is however, that looking at a scene like that will actually do nothing for my depression if I am in the midst of it. Actually, it can make me feel worse. I will look at that spectacular view and say to myself "what kind of a loser am I that I can continue to feel this lousy while looking at this awesome scene?" So why did I share that photo? To get your attention, inspire you, encourage you to think of things higher than yourself - is it helping? o

Gaining New Perspective: Part One

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Isn't that an amazing photo? Do you think if you were the one right there on that mountaintop, taking in that view, that you would be able to gain some new perspective on your life? A recent article by one of my favourite depression writers John Folk-Williams  titled 'Changing Core Beliefs about Depression' got me thinking about the way I am thinking. You may want to read it yourself along with other great stuff on his blog 'Storied Mind' and see if it tweaks some new thinking for you too. He talks about the core beliefs of his own depression story like this: "The core beliefs of my depression story are bleak: things don’t work out, I stumble and fail, I don’t have much energy or motivation, I’m no good at getting along with people, in groups I’m invisible, and on it goes."

Thankfulness + Mindfulness = Dynamic Duo for Depression: Part Three

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I am thankful for chickadees. It was on my list of 99 Reasons to be Thankful. But just putting chickadees on my list doesn't give me a depression getaway benefit. Thinking about those dear little birds and why I like them so much, now that is a benefit. If I want to take my thankfulness for chickadees to the next level it might look like this:

Thankfulness + Mindfulness = Dynamic Duo for Depression: Part Two

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We are talking about MINDFULNESS this week and how to relate it to THANKFULNESS.  For review purposes, think of mindfulness as a way of living in the present, making observations about something immediately in front of you, without judgement. For instance, concentrate on this beautiful photo of a bee doing what comes naturally. Take your time. Hard to think depressed thoughts when you concentrate on something so special, so natural. And, why bother doing that? Because there are benefits for everyone, benefits that we who are challenged by depression could use.

Thankfulness + Mindfulness = Dynamic Duo for Depression: Part One

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As a kid I can remember spending a lot of time waiting for my dad to come home from work. His homecoming was often the highlight of my day. If happened to be raining while I watched for him through our front window it was a special treat. I would watch the water drops fall down the window pane. Sometimes I would pick two water drops and imagine they were racing and watch expectantly to see which one would finish first!  I was really MINDFUL of those raindrops. That is something that children do better than adults, they are mindful. Let me explain.

99 Reasons to be Thankful: Part Three

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As I end up my '99 Reasons to be Thankful' series, I just had to include a picture of my grandchildren. So here we go, 33 more reasons to be thankful by Wendy Love:

99 Reasons to be Thankful: Part Two

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Are you taking the 'thankfulness challenge' with me? I am continuing my list of reasons to be thankful.  Here goes:

99 Reasons to be Thankful: Part One

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Hello! If you read the last three posts about thankfulness you know I am taking the challenge! I am leading by example and inviting you to join me. Each of the next three days I am going to list 33 things I am thankful for. Here we go!

The Gift of Thanksgiving: Part Three

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How do you like this universal thank you? So, if this idea of using thanksgiving to help with your depression is a good one, and it is, then just how do you begin? Do you need to thank people directly for something specific? Well, you could if you want. Should you keep a running list of things you are thankful for? Sure, you could do that too.

The Gift of Thanksgiving: Part One

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Today is Thanksgiving for Canadians. It was defined in 1957 by the Canadian parliament as "A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed – to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October." Most of us know thanksgiving as a wonderful festival and celebration of thanks. It is celebrated at various times and in many different ways all over the world. I have fond memories of thanksgiving celebrations in my own family. We often celebrated in my country home in Peterborough, Ontario, and my city relatives from Toronto would happily make the trip to the country at this beautiful time of year.

The Gift of Thanksgiving: Part Two

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Do you keep thank you  notes? I am a retired teacher and I still have a couple of thank you notes written by appreciative parents or students. Those notes were precious to me. Being appreciated and thanked is an energizing experience. But even better than being the recipient of thanks is giving thanks. Why is it better? I found a wonderful article , from The New York Times about gratitude and how to apply it not only to our thanksgiving holiday, but also to your life.

'These Boots Were Made for Walkin': Part Three (Exercise is Better than Medicine)

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So, what kinds of boots are you going to need in order to EXERCISE FOR DEPRESSION? Or maybe you won't need boots, just walking shoes, or a bathing suit? Are you convinced yet that exercise would be a good addition to your recovery and maintenance strategies? My own exercise of choice is walking. Even when I am feeling edgy and/or depressed when I start my walk, I can notice my mood slowly change about half way into the walk. Some walks are better than others. But all walks are good.  I couldn't handle my life at all without my walks. I walk alone. That works best for me. My brain seems to go to good places when I walk. I love my walks. I couldn't give it up.

'These Boots Were Made for Walkin': Part Two (Excercise is better than Medication)

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Do you remember this song? "These boots were made for walkin And that's just what they'll do One of these days these boots Are gonna walk all over you!" It was a popular song in my day. There wasn't a girl around who wouldn't love singing that song if she had been mistreated or dumped by her boyfriend. There is something powerful about the image of walking all over someone who you feel has walked all over you.