Dealing with Depression & Changing Habits
Many of the things we do each day are done out of habits which are so well established that we do not think consciously about what we are doing. Some of our habits are practical ones like hanging up the car keys, driving, ducking under a low beam, waking up at a particular time and attending to bodily functions. There are two other classes of habit, however, which exert powerful influences on our prospects for the success or failure of our endeavours. They are thinking habits - and there are good ones and bad ones.
Each of our emotional habits operate with varying intensity according to our circumstances, but usually only one powerful emotion dominates at a time. When you espy a fellow chatting up a pretty girl over a bottle of claret in a corner of a bistro there is little doubt which one is dominating his and you may assume that it is wholly positive.
In contrast, negative attitudes also pop up and dominate us. This is not all bad news, because it permits us to focus the whole of our intellect on knocking one out at a time with a shot of positive thinking. How? Read on, the best is yet to come. No, don't make a grab for the claret decanter yet. You will find, devised especially for you, positively charged ammunition with which to neutralize the negative characteristics cultivated by your depression.
Foundation Daily Habits - knocking out negative attitudes with positive thoughts
Make them an automatic start and finish to every day and a permanent part of your make-up.
Habit Number 1 - Plan and Prioritise
Each evening list in your diary all the tasks that need to be done and prioritise them according to their urgency.
Habit Number 2 - Four Principles Every Day
Read, learn and consider in depth the following four fundamental principles in terms of your own life today. Write them down in your diary and commit them to your memory. Recite them to yourself every morning, noon and evening, on the way to work and on your way home and whenever depression strikes.
First Principle: Everything in our world is changing - continually
These words are making changes to you now as you read. The world - your world, my world - is different today than it was yesterday. New things are happening, opinions are changing, people are entering and leaving our lives, we are constantly saying hello or goodbye to something or somebody. New opportunities and threats enter our lives every day.
Second Principle: Your past is dead
Nothing in it can be changed. There will certainly be things that you have learnt from it; that is why we study history. But your past is wholly unresponsive to contemplation, so do not waste your time ruminating. All that does is to provide nourishment for the Black Dog. Look forwards.
Third Principle: Your time is finite
Do not waste it. Every minute you dwell in the past you are denying yourself time in the present. Make the most of the here and now.
Fourth Principle: What you do today creates your future
Your thoughts and actions create your life tomorrow, next week, next month. What you do today will affect other people's futures as well. Your actions in the present have the potential to bring happiness, joy, success and freedom to yourself and to others. Write the statement below in your diary or on a piece of card to use as a bookmark with your name in the space.
I ...................................................................... understand that all things change and that I can change all things in my life. My actions today will decide my future.
