Okay, so things are tough. You’re depressed. The bills have formed an impenetrable wall that you feel like you’ll never knock down. You’re depressed. But the world isn’t over and there’s time, and there are ways, to over come your situation and your depression. In part 1 and 2 of this 3 part series, we examined depression and its causes and started formulating ways to develop a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) so you can overcome depression at any point in your life under any circumstance. In this final article, we’ll finish exploring ways to take your mind off your problems so your PMA can help you defeat any problem.

Make Some Time to Do a Crossword

Most people love to do crosswords. A crossword puzzle is a square grid that contains a series of blank squares which are to be filled with words that are surmised from clues that are given. These blank squares have words that are filled vertically and horizontally. They cross each other and overlap until the grid is completed and the riddle is solved. To be able to do this successfully one needs to have a mastery over their vocabulary and an extensive knowledge of various subjects. Crosswords challenge your brain, especially when difficult. I compare a crossword puzzle to creating a plan or strategy which is essential to overcoming depression, because you must also develop a specific plan to fix your course of action in regards to the focus point of your worries that influence your state of depression. So treat developing your plan like you would treat completing a crossword puzzle. Just like one keeps filling the squares with letters, thoughts and ideas that come to your mind must be jotted down and kept. Even if they don’t fit into what you are planning to do, don’t reject any of them. There will be a day when you think to some level that you have enough thoughts and ideas written down, then you can be critical as to what you want to use, eliminating or storing the rest for future reference.

After developing a plan, if it does not successfully work, then continue to replace it with a new plan, learning from your mistakes until you find one that does work. When you choose this route, it creates confidence in your ability to handle any situation.

Ditch the Paralysis of Will

As Thich Nhat Hanh once said, “People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.” Despite all good intentions to go forward with their plan, many people don’t follow through on what they have decided upon. They become overwhelmed with doubt and fear, to the point of losing the nerve to tackle any new venture in today’s economy. They cannot see the potential opportunities around them because they are paralyzed by the fear of failure, thus limitless potential becomes restricted by self-limitations. Their whole perspective is limited because they can’t think big enough to get past today, or big enough to see where they can go or what they could be a part of. In plain words, they lack the importance of creative visualization, because of this, they will argue themselves out of a good thing.

Fear will intensify insecurity, paralyzing any decision-making process, making people wait for ever better possibilities which often never come. In the meantime they let incredible opportunities slip by.

Indecision creates an unstable situation in your mind and body. As long as you are an indecisive person you are vulnerable, you won’t be able to move in any direction with full assurance unless you are guaranteed that the step you might take is safe and secure. And we all know there are no guarantees in life. If and when you do decide, don’t allow yourself to be harassed by fear. Take long slow breaths and imagine strength and courage coming to you. Work with whatever you have and move forward, taking advantage of the opportunities that surround you. Let the results speaks for themselves. “Where there is a will, there is a way.”

Shake Your Booty

Of course I don’t mean to go out and dance. What I am trying to say is drop the remote, get off the sofa and start being creative again. Though you may have taken a sizable loss in your business plunging your family into a severe financial hole, you must not forget that you still have the creativity and ingenuity that you originally started out with. If you decide to start over in another field, you can use the same creativity and ingenuity that worked before. Eventually this will result in a much more successful and prosperous accomplishment. Hidden deep within ourselves is an extraordinary and inexhaustible source of innovative ideas, a fountain of creativity waiting for us to drink from it. It is incredible as to how many creative ideas are born of extreme necessity. The same inventive spirit found in the American people during prosperous times can also be demonstrated during the worst. If you can’t find work then create work. Work with what you have and get in touch with that inner creative power. By focusing on the positive, you will be amazed at how the right people, effective opportunities and favorable situations will present themselves in order to bring your desire to a successful fruition.

Okay, Now Take a Good Look in the Mirror

Tell me, do you like what you see? Are you standing tall with your shoulders pulled back and your chest expanded? Are your gestures and facial expressions attractive or repulsive? Could it be possible that you haven’t lost that same blank stare, grimace, frown, and sagging chin that has hounded you for years? You’re probably still hunched over, toting around baggage from all sorts of upsets, imparting negative vibes to everyone you meet? Do you still lack the desire to exalt yourself above and beyond your depression in order to make changes, to improve your situation or to move forward? Perhaps repeating the previous steps might help you stay one step ahead of your mental depression. My dear friends, because I care so much for all of you, I am concerned for your well-being. I want you to find a level of inner peace like I did. You cannot linger and wallow in negative attitudes and emotions. If you are to face the future with any strength, the first thing you need to do is prevent and eliminate those negative emotions driven by fear, panic, anxiety and depression. You must replace this fear with positive emotions. If you still need help finding your way out, there are other articles which I have written with respect to positive thinking and self-improvement. They have been published. You can find them on my blog. They may be beneficial in encouraging you to find your life’s purpose and to live life to the fullest in the best way possible. It will prompt you to survive, experiencing a much happier and prosperous way of life. When you have a positive attitude, you will cease feeling depressed and will wake up each day feeling good about yourself, expecting incredible things to happen. Good luck and the best of success with your new outlook on life. Then again, if you have a new, positive outlook on life, you won’t need luck!

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