I think it is easy to focus on the negative issues in life, because (for most of us) those are the exceptions. We have full bellies, warm homes, avid interests, the beauty of nature, the kindness of loved ones, humorous friends, and so on. The negatives stand out more because they are the unusual. Also, keeping your priorities clear and focused really helps. Realize that material goods are nice, but not the center of your life. Hold on to the ones you love, and attempt to see possibility for betterment rather than failure and horror in the problems of the world. Some specific advice I can offer is volunteer to work directly with people that are less fortunate than you. This not only puts your problems in perspective and gives you the feeling of making the world slightly better, but it allows you to make new, rich, and selfless connections with other human beings. All around, it can be a great help. I would recommend working the Big Brother/Big Sister program, volunteering at a hospital or an old folks home, helping out at a food pantry, or volunteering in an educational program for underprivileged children.
My more honest advice is to confront your negativity. Confront does not necessarily mean overcome; it means that you have to be totally honest with yourself about your negativity. Embrace it to an extent, learn its limits, plumb its depths, and basically learn everything about it. Odds are you're going to have it all your life, so you might as well get to know it.
Redirect the negativity into pursuits where it can be useful. For example, as a scientist, I direct my negativity into skeptical questioning. That allows me to dissect a situation and assess it as close to objectively as I can get. That's probably the most obvious use of negativity; turn your negativity towards investigation and learning opportunities.
Basically, everybody loves sunny days, so learn to love cloudy, rainy, miserable days too. Don't go so far as to hate sunny days; rather, expand your enjoyment of life to encompass the more unpleasant things too. That way, you can get something out of every situation. Just remember to keep enough happiness around to remember that negative things are still negative, and you can avoid turning into an angsty, shitty goth.
I redirect my depression into first person shooters, Music, and poetry. Try writing uplifting poetry, it really does work wonders; after all "As a man thinketh, so is he."
I redirect my depression into first person shooters, Music, and poetry. Try writing uplifting poetry, it really does work wonders; after all "As a man thinketh, so is he."
If you don't like the psychologist or psychiatrist, it's alright to find someone different. I remember feeling frustrated with this when I was younger and made that choice. I felt like I either had to stay with that person and talk to them, which I hated, or stop going entirely. I ended up not going back. Make sure you find someone you like.
I also agree about the exercising. It makes you happy and can be very rewarding, which also makes you happy. If you find working out hard to get into, try something more competitive, like basketball or tennis. I'd also recommend trying out boxing. It's great for confidence and helps relieve frustration.
Look outside, enjoy the little nature left to see. It's snowing, in November! This hasn't happened in years, fuck yeah snow this early, that'll increase the chances of a white Christmas. Also, fall leaves look very pretty when still on the trees. Big trees filled completely with perfectly yellow leaves. It looks awesome. Other than that, I have no idea how to stay positive. Just do lots of stuff that makes you happy I think.
I am also clinically depressed. However, I love the winter, and the snowy/Christmastime is my favorite time of the year!(Not for presents reasons, though.) This is just another thing that I can look forward to an be happy about.
And the lakes. They connect all the cities in Fryslan. Cities being the places that have been granted city rights. Real cities! It's a great spectacle. Man against nature. Armed with two shoes under which two pieces of iron have been put as to allow these men amongst men to glide over the already slippery ice that covers the canals and keeps the boats in place. These man skate for the entire day, from city to city, following the course, collecting the stamps, only to end up where they started. They try to best their fellow men, but we all know, they are true men. Truly, images of men with large spikes of ice hanging from their noses and covered mouths is no rarity.
I never ice skated until I was 16, and I have only gone a handful of times since then. I am resolving here and now to learn how to ice-skate this winter. I hope Mr. MacRoss can skate well enough to help me! ^_^
I made the conscious decision to be happy. Perspective works well in my case, too. It might suck to get hit by a car, but at least Someone got me to a hospital and I had insurance to cover my bills.
I never ice skated until I was 16, and I have only gone a handful of times since then. I am resolving here and now to learn how to ice-skate this winter. I hope Mr. MacRoss can skate well enough to help me! ^_^
There is little to learn. Stand up straight on thin pieces of iron and push yourself forward. The hardest part is balance, especially when your feet are freezing.
I never ice skated until I was 16, and I have only gone a handful of times since then. I am resolving here and now to learn how to ice-skate this winter. I hope Mr. MacRoss can skate well enough to help me! ^_^
There is little to learn. Stand up straight on thin pieces of iron and push yourself forward. The hardest part is balance, especially when your feet are freezing.
I meant become proficient. I intellectually understand how ice skating works. I just stink at it.
I never ice skated until I was 16, and I have only gone a handful of times since then. I am resolving here and now to learn how to ice-skate this winter. I hope Mr. MacRoss can skate well enough to help me! ^_^
There is little to learn. Stand up straight on thin pieces of iron and push yourself forward. The hardest part is balance, especially when your feet are freezing.
I meant become proficient. I intellectually understand how ice skating works. I just stink at it.
Yeah, and it doesn't matter how awesome you are at skating with socks on freshly waxed linoleum, it's not the same.
I meant become proficient. I intellectually understand how ice skating works. I just stink at it.
Still, there's nothing to learn. All you need is practice and some natural balance. Mine sucks, so whenever I wish to successfully skate, I get my hands on hockey skates.
Comments
Some specific advice I can offer is volunteer to work directly with people that are less fortunate than you. This not only puts your problems in perspective and gives you the feeling of making the world slightly better, but it allows you to make new, rich, and selfless connections with other human beings. All around, it can be a great help. I would recommend working the Big Brother/Big Sister program, volunteering at a hospital or an old folks home, helping out at a food pantry, or volunteering in an educational program for underprivileged children.
Redirect the negativity into pursuits where it can be useful. For example, as a scientist, I direct my negativity into skeptical questioning. That allows me to dissect a situation and assess it as close to objectively as I can get. That's probably the most obvious use of negativity; turn your negativity towards investigation and learning opportunities.
Basically, everybody loves sunny days, so learn to love cloudy, rainy, miserable days too. Don't go so far as to hate sunny days; rather, expand your enjoyment of life to encompass the more unpleasant things too. That way, you can get something out of every situation. Just remember to keep enough happiness around to remember that negative things are still negative, and you can avoid turning into an angsty, shitty goth.
Sorry, I couldn't not Godwin that.
I also agree about the exercising. It makes you happy and can be very rewarding, which also makes you happy. If you find working out hard to get into, try something more competitive, like basketball or tennis. I'd also recommend trying out boxing. It's great for confidence and helps relieve frustration.
edit: We have a lot of them.