How to Reduce Stress and Depression
How to Reduce Stress and Depression
How to Reduce Stress and Depression
When you are depressed, troubled or otherwise upset about something, pop gurus may tell you to just re-adjust the way you are seeing a situation, but their suggestions are often too superficial. For example, when you fail at something, they may say to you, "don't get down on yourself. Repeat to yourself that you are a competent and excellent person." This may get rid of the pain sort of like how pain killers can dull the ache in your body. However, is it really getting rid of the pain for the long term? And more importantly, is it serving your whole life's best interests?
So let's say your back is hurting, instead of just taking pain killers, you might need to think about the possibility that you have bad posture. Perhaps you have bad posture because you are sulking all the time. You might be sulking all the time, because you are at home watching TV because you are too afraid to go out and chase after your dream. All this depth could be buried by a pain killer the killer of that which is trying to give you deep wisdom.
I have another idea, instead of suppressing mental pain only with medication and positive words, let's listen to the pain. Let's listen to the pain as you would listen to a friend who has just been heartbroken. Listen to the pain as if it had a million dollars secretly encoded in the feeling. Feel it completely, and you will start to understand deep down what it is about. See your innocence in the whole matter, and other people's innocence. Soften your body, be vulnerable, and open up to the pain.
When you feel your ego has loosened up enough, try to "deeply" re-adjust your perception. Try to see how the whole thing may have been blown out of proportion. Perhaps it is not as serious as you thought. It may even be funny. Is there a different way to see the situation that is more light-hearted? Is there another point of view that your favorite comedian or role model would take? How about how Jesus or Buddha would respond? If possible, see how you are like a kid who got way too serious about losing his GI Joe throwing a fit and stomping around the house like his life was over. See how you may be like a socially anxious man who is worried about all sorts of issues that other people are noticing about him, when in fact, they didn't even spend 1% of their mental energy on it. See how the world moves on carefree despite what happened.
Now, about the "feeling your pain completely" part. It takes a lot of strength to do this especially if you are not deeply rooted with who you really are. Besides the sensation of suffering, there may be concepts of guilt, shame, or frustration that will make you want to stop taking a look at yourself because you can't stand yourself. Understand that these bad or worthless identities are not you. Do you want to know who you really are?
Ask yourself, as a human being, what doing you really want in life? Think beyond your superficial pleasures that satisfy your ego. In fact, let's take the ego out of the equation. Let's say all your dreams came true the money, relationships, your past rectified. What would you want then? Would you not want to give love to others and yourself freely, donate money, help those in need, or feel the beauty of each moment? Of course you would! Then know that you are this sacred and beautiful. You had tried your best given all the experience and wisdom you have. You have been through so much, with all the negativity from friends, family, or society telling you all sorts of ideas about guilt, values, righteousness, and more. It is not your fault. The true you is ONLY the good and none of the bad no matter what happened or what you did. Jesus said forgive others for they know not what they do. They were in ignorance and confusion, and so were you. So forgive yourself and accept your true identity. Now, with this strength, shine your light through your pain.
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