Me and Tree Blog 8

BLOG (8/1) posted on 2018/06/18 – check this blog for the next update in about two week’s time

MOVE OUT FROM UNDER THE DARK SHADOW OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY

Three important self-suggestions in the handling of depression

Suggestion is the process by which one person can influence another (without direct arguments, orders or convincing) to behave in a specific way, or to accept a specific opinion or plan of action. With self-suggestion you become part of a constructive process to influence yourself (subconscious mind) in a positive way. The following three self-suggestions can assist you in the handling of depression.

Suggestion 1: I am precious in God’s eyes. I am worthy. I am as good as anyone else. I form part of God’s bigger plan. I have a special place in God’s plan.

(This positive self-suggestion can help to contradict your negative self-beliefs with regards to your low self-esteem which often can be associated with depression.)

Suggestion 2: All depression comes and goes. I will feel better again.

(This positive self-suggestion can help to contradict your negative self-belief that the feeling of depression came to stay forever. There will most probably be times when you will feel depressed again, but the feeling will always go away again.)

Suggestion 3: It is very necessary that I live my life in the here and now. (For example, yesterday I might have been depressed, but today is a new day.) Every day is a fresh start. Today is the most important day of my life. Yesterday is gone. I cannot keep on living in the past, because it holds me back and I cannot move forward. My past only has value, if I am able to learn from it and benefit from the experience.

(In coping with depression it is of utmost importance to bring yourself back to the here and now – this moment – time and again in order not to get stuck in the past or to stay pre-occupied with the uncertainty of the future.)

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In order to integrate the truth of suggestion 3 with your inner world, you might do the following practical visual technique. You need to visualise a sign board with the words It was yesterday written in your favourite colours. See this sign hanging over each and every unhappy and traumatic incident in your life for instance:

It was yesterday when you did not succeed in stalling your negative thoughts.

It was yesterday’ when you gave up hope.

It was yesterday’ when you did not start afresh as you were supposed to do.

It was yesterday’ when you thought only of yourself, instead of the happiness of others and what you could have done for them.

It was yesterday when you made a mistake.

It was yesterday when you knew you had said the wrong thing.

It was yesterday when you hated yourself.

Every day is a new beginning. Every day is a fresh start. Because it was yesterday...

By so doing, you can overcome depression, and all the negative feelings associated with it. At the same time you can get more into contact with, and focuses upon the here and now.