To all my fellow Americans, I wish for you a wonderful, THANKFUL day, Regardless of our current situation, we have been greatly blessed. Spend some time today writing as many entries as you can in your gratitude journal. If you’re alone, you might also enjoy looking through some entries on Cute Overload. They always bring a smile! Happy Thanksgiving!!!
–Elizabeth
No, Uh, YOU Go Ahead
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Focusing on the Blessings
Hello, friend!
How are you? I hope you have been using your tools and are getting stronger every day.
I tucked my 6-year-old granddaughter into bed a few nights ago and listened to her prayer. Her heart was so full that she spent several minutes thanking God for as many things as she could think of. That’s what WE need to do every single day of our lives. Read this quote from Melody Beattie:
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.
Instead of a cup half full, you begin to see one which is overflowing. I’ve said it many times: DO NOT NEGLECT WRITING IN YOUR GRATITUDE JOURNAL EVERY NIGHT BEFORE TURNING OUT THE LIGHT. Your dreams will be sweeter, and you will wake refreshed and better able to tackle what lies ahead of you that day.
Right now, take a moment to think about all the ways you are blessed: a God Who cares greatly for you, life, your senses, a huge sky above you, air to breathe, a meal to eat……it can go on and on. SEE THE BEAUTY AND THE BLESSING. Yes, there is evil and smut and hatred in this world, but don’t choose to focus on it. Indeed, IT IS A CHOICE. Even in the midst of a dirty street in a bad neighborhood, a beautiful weed still manages to push its way through a crack. Change what’s wrong when you can, but keep your eye on the beauty of the goal rather than wallow in the misery of problem. Life—even life with pain—is a blessing.
Until next time.
Blessings, Elizabeth
*** If you are new to this blog, it is best to start by reading “About” and the first entry that was posted on May 13, 2013. Then read each consecutive entry, one per day. Welcome!
Joy in the Process
Good morning!
I’ve been cleaning out my bedroom closet and happened upon some of my first gratitude journals. It’s interesting to read back over them. The first entries were very brief and strained as I was in the most difficult phase of depression, but after several months I couldn’t hold myself back from writing many, many entries. Usually there were 10 or more. You will undergo an amazing transformation when you constantly are looking for the blessings in life. I haven’t kept a gratitude journal on a daily basis lately –mainly only when life is crushing in around me – but I think I want to get back into the habit. Plus, it’s fun to read over your entries years later and be reminded of all the ways your life has been blessed. Don’t hold back; write as many blessings as you can each day.
I’ve got another art project for you: working with clay. Get some clay at your local craft or hobby shop. The type that doesn’t requiring firing in the kiln. Then put on some soothing music—no words—and hold the clay in your hands for a few minutes. Still your mind, and start manipulating the clay until something emerges. You may be surprised by what you see. I know I was. It can be very revealing. Try to do this within the next week. I’ll check back with you and share what became of my clay. I know you’ll enjoy this exercise.
Although it’s tough at the start, you will begin to see progress in healing, and it eventually becomes an enjoyable process. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
I’ll be back later this week.
Blessings, Elizabeth
*** If you are new to this blog, it is best to start by reading “About” and the first entry that was posted on May 13, 2013. Then read each consecutive entry, one per day. Welcome!
Blessings
Good morning!
I’ve got another quote for your collection that emphasizes how important gratitude is:
“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” –Melody Beattie
You’ll find that to be true as you practice thanking God for all your blessings. No matter how bad things are in your life, there are always reasons to be thankful. Is it raining? Rain helps wash the pollen out of the air and will lessen any allergies you may have. Did you rip your favorite dress? This is an opportunity to remember that our hope does not lie in things but in God alone. Did you just break up with your best friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse? You can be thankful that you have the opportunity to reevaluate your life and perhaps alter your direction. That doesn’t mean that you don’t grieve over your loss, but don’t forget to simultaneously acknowledge what the blessings are. You may not know the blessings for months or years or decades. That’s okay. The blessings are there. Accept it.
YOU WILL GET BETTER. In the meantime, take the time you need to heal. Depression may have made an unwelcome visit, but you’ll be stronger for its coming after you’ve worked to shoo it out of the house. Imagine yourself using your tools to sweep it out the door, a little at a time.
Now, LET’S GET SWEEPING!!!
I’ll be back on Wednesday.
Blessings, Elizabeth
*** If you are new to this blog, it is best to start by reading “About” and the first entry that was posted on May 13, 2013. Then read each consecutive entry, one per day. Welcome!
Handling the Noise
Good morning!
Do you ever feel that the noise of the world is deafening? You are watching your absolute favorite show on television when you get a call from someone AND the doorbell rings. Add to that the chatter of housemates. Then to top it off, you smell your dinner burning on the stove. Sometimes your ears, brain, and body are so tired that you want to burst into tears. And occasionally you do.
Depression makes handling the variety and quantity of input all the harder. You’re already feeling overloaded, so all the extras are like huge loads heaped upon your shoulders.
Close your eyes and just BREATHE. Take a few minutes to quiet your mind. Remind yourself of Psalm 46:10…..”Be still, and know that I am God.” You may feel out of control, but He is not. He holds the world in His hands. Quiet your mind, and give your burdens to Him. The noise in your life may very well still be there, but you can be assured that you are not alone. And THAT is something you can include in your gratitude journal: you can thank God that He walks with you when you acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior. Even the difficult times of life become bearable.
So hand your burdens to Him. You will have a Rock that cannot be moved, a Strong Tower of defense, and an Anchor to hold you steady. YOU WILL MAKE IT THROUGH.
Keep using your tools. I’ll be back on Friday.
Blessings, Elizabeth
*** If you are new to this blog, it is best to start by reading “About” and the first entry that was posted on May 13, 2013. Then read each consecutive entry, one per day. Welcome!
Building Your Tools
Good morning!
Are you still using your gratitude journal? I can’t emphasize strongly enough how important it is to note the blessings in your life and then thank God for them. A life without gratitude becomes depressed and eventually bitter. Take note of blessings every day of your life— not only when you’re depressed. You may not want to write them down. However, at this time of struggle, it will help to see them on paper in order to keep your blessings at the forefront of your mind.
Another tool that you may find meaningful is to keep a collection of quotations that inspire you. You can keep them in a computer file, on index cards, or in a notebook. You could even embroider some to hang on your wall or make into a pillow. Whatever works for you. Here are a few that have been helpful to me:
“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” –Louisa May Alcott
“One ship drives east and another drives west
With the selfsame winds that blow.
Tis the set of the sails
And not the gales
Which tells us the way to go.” –Ella Wheeler Wilcox
“Storms make the oak grow deeper roots.” –George Herbert
Keep your eyes and ears open for other quotations.
I’ll be back on Wednesday!
Blessings, Elizabeth
*** If you are new to this blog, it is best to start by reading “About” and the first entry that was posted on May 13, 2013. Then read each consecutive entry, one per day. Welcome!
The Weaver of the Threads
Good morning!
How is your gratitude journal coming? If you feel ready, increase the number of things you are grateful for each day from three to four or five. No pressure here. Only if you feel ready.
My recovery was integrally tied to the Christian faith. I had an extremely immature faith when I collapsed with depression and panic attacks. Most of what I knew about the faith was at the milk and cookies level of understanding. Sure, I loved God, but the whole concept of a savior was a little beyond my understanding, though I might not have admitted it at the time. Only as a result of my depression did I delve into the Bible with all my heart and soul, desperate for help. I knew that I had slammed into an overwhelming opponent and that I was out of my league.
Yes, I worked my tail off, trying to get well. But God was the one who sustained me and renewed my strength when I had none left. And it was He who interwove all those separate skills into a whole. He became…..well, my life!
I came to know His Son, Jesus Christ, as my Savior. The only Savior. I’d always been a “good girl”, so I’d never really felt a need for a Savior personally. It’s easy to justify “little” sins as “mistakes” or “just being human”, instead of calling them by their real name: sin. As a result of my collapse, and as I later wandered into conspicuous sin, my need for a Savior became very apparent. I realized that I wasn’t such a good girl after all. That’s when Jesus became real and personal for me.
Spend time in prayer and reading the Bible. Ask God to open your eyes to His truth. He always responds to earnest seekers. To learn more about the Christian faith, you might want to start with one of the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) or the book of Romans. The Psalms and Job are helpful when you are suffering. You’re also welcome to visit my other blog, Following the Shepherd, at nonfatlatte.wordpress.com.
I’ll be back on Monday, when I will begin sharing excerpts from a few books that you might want to read as a supplement to your other recovery tools.
Blessings to you, my friend. Elizabeth
*** If you are new to this blog, it is best to start by reading “About” and the first entry that was posted on May 13, 2013. Then read each consecutive entry, one per day. Welcome!
Life and Hope
Good morning! Did you make your collage this weekend? Are you still working on it? Your collage is a very personal picture of the life you want to achieve. No two will be alike. It is a special way to look at and remind yourself of your goal. You’ll get there.
Are you keeping up with your gratitude journal? I can’t emphasize enough the importance of that tool. When depressed, it’s hard to see anything positive or hopeful. Writing down a few things that are good each day will help you to see that although everything may FEEL bad, not everything IS bad. There is hope and life and joy. Maybe you don’t feel it right now, but that doesn’t change the reality of its existence or the fact that you will feel it again.
It’s the same with God. Maybe you don’t feel His presence right now. I know you’re hurting. Sometimes the pain is excruciating. I’ve been there. I’m sure you often feel alone and deserted right now. You are not. The fact of the matter is that God exists and that He loves you. He will be with you through this pain of depression if you LEAN ON HIM. He wants your love and your trust. Keep using your tools, but know that He Himself is what everything else fits into. He is the one who brings all the separate pieces into one beautiful whole.
Psalm 30:2-5 says,
2 O Lord my God, I cried unto Thee, and Thou hast healed me.
3 O Lord, Thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4 Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.
5 For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
TRUST GOD’S PERFECT PLAN IN THIS, and know that in time, you will praise Him for letting you go through this depression. We’ll talk more about this later.
I’ll be back tomorrow. YOU ARE GETTING THERE. Keep using your tools.
Blessings, Elizabeth
*** If you are new to this blog, it is best to start by reading “About” and the first entry that was posted on May 13, 2013. Then read each consecutive entry, one per day. Welcome!
Attack Depression on All Fronts!
Good morning! How was last night for you? I hope you remembered to write the three things you are grateful for in your journal.
As we accumulate tools to conquer depression, you COULD pick and choose which ones you would like to use. But wouldn’t it be so much better to use every single one of them, to attack your foe on all fronts?! Let’s hit it from every direction so we can get this thing under control.
I don’t want to bombard you with tips all at once. None of them are difficult, but I know that most things feel difficult when you’re depressed. And I know that when you’re feeling like this, it can take a few days to get up to speed with change. Tomorrow, however, I’ll be adding another tip to help heal your brain and emotions. I know you’ll like it.
Note that in the column to the right of these posts is a section called “Categories.” As I add new tools or expand on current ones, you can easily find them under “Toolbox: ____”, such as “Toolbox: Gratitude Journal.” Refer back to the categories as often as needed.
I’ll be back tomorrow morning with a very simple tool. Until then, use your gratitude journal and keep remembering, “WE’RE GOING TO CONQUER THIS THING!”
Blessings, Elizabeth
*** If you are new to this blog, it is best to start by reading “About” and the first entry that was posted on May 13, 2013. Then read each consecutive entry, one per day. Welcome!
How did it go?
Good morning! Did you choose a journal yesterday and start writing in it last night? A gratitude journal is a powerful tool. Don’t skip it. If you think hard enough, I’m sure you can come up with three things you are thankful for, whether you’re having a good day or bad. I PROMISE that you will benefit from doing this. Over time you will realize that your thought processes are becoming more optimistic. Eventually you may even feel frustrated that you can’t write down many more than the three! But let’s wait for that. Right now, stick with three so that you don’t start turning it into a competition with yourself and then feel disappointed on the days when you can’t come up with as many.
If you didn’t start a gratitude journal yesterday, PLEASE start it today. You can do this, and, slowly but surely, you’ll realize the winter of your emotions will be turning to spring. There is life and hope beyond depression.
Talk to you tomorrow!
Elizabeth
*** If you are new to this blog, it is best to start by reading “About” and the first entry that was posted on May 13, 2013. Then read each consecutive entry, one per day. Welcome!
Depression: Through the Pain 