“The black hole of depression is not a place to be” said a close friend of mine. “Being scared of everything, always negative, and having no appetite for food or life makes you realize you have to do something .” So, with a resolve that never wavered, she pulled herself out of those dark feelings. Her triumph showed me how it’s possible to be determined, and that it’s good for your health.
Listen to positive messages. Be encouraged.
My friend’s determination to achieve emotional freedom began when she saw that her unhappy mental state was worrying her children. She was helped one afternoon by the words of a woman preacher on TV who encouraged her to take responsibility for her emotions, to pamper herself into being healthy again and not just rely on medication to do it.
TIP:
– Cultivate happiness. Listen to words of encouragement. Be heartened by them.
– Don’t ruminate, reiterate or speculate over dark thoughts – that is, wonder why you’re thinking them.
– Celebrate the little victories in life –finding lost keys, getting up on time, succeeding at something.
– Take notice of the things that go right – an unexpected thank you, or consecutive green lights on your way to work.
Break open the gloom. Persevere.
Often dark thinking can appear to be as solid as a rock. Despite one’s best efforts it can seemingly remain unbreakable. Yet constant blows of optimistic, positive, and yes, even spiritual thinking, can crack apart those negative feelings through determined perseverance.
A man wanted to break up a large rock in his garden. He struck it 100 times with a sledge hammer. The rock remained intact. Finally, he gave up. A neighbour asked if he could have a go. He hit the rock. Instantly it fell apart. “How come I couldn’t do that?” said the man. “Well”, replied the neighbour, “you did all the hard work. If you’d just persevered and given it one last blow, you’d have cracked it open yourself.”
TIP:
– Persevere. Be determined to succeed. Enact the proverb, “If at first you don’t succeed try, try again.”
– Don’t be defeatist. Keep going. Stay mentally active.
– Keep your mental eye on the high goal. Don’t count your footsteps in getting there.
Be tortoise-like. Succeed
Sometimes slow progress can lead to discouragement. However, not feeling fast enough on one’s mental feet, doesn’t mean failure. It’s possible to take up the challenge and beat the blues.
A tortoise and a fast-running hare, had a race. The hare, who was sure he’d win, stopped for breakfast, then fell asleep. He woke up just in time to see the tortoise cross the finish line. – Aesop’s fables
TIP:
– Employ the prize-winning combination of steadfast determination and calm persistence.
– Be one of those individuals who either, “gain good rapidly and hold their position, or attain slowly and yield not to discouragement.” (Science and Health p. 254, Mary Baker Eddy)
– Be determined to beat depressing thoughts, and win the prize of health and happiness.
I’m a professional Christian Science Practitioner and Teacher. Through my prayer-based practice, I help people find happiness, health and healing.
I really appreciate the clear and succinct way in which you presented the topic of “being determined”. Thank you for sharing your helpful ideas. It’s so refreshing and encouraging to read simple, practical tips that can be put immediately to effective use. I especially liked the examples: “Don’t be defeatist. Keep going. Stay mentally active.” They’re admirable life-goals that can have a beneficial effect on our health and well-being.
Thank you Jason for your comment. I am pleased that you like the tips and are finding them helpful to you. It is beneficial to keep your eye on the high goal and keep going. They’re not only admirable life-goals as you say, but they are also good for your health.
A post I can reply to! Those very helpful thoughts should help a lot of people Beverly. I especially like rejoicing over the little things. There are no end of small things in our lives we can be happy about and they lift us up to the greater happiness.
Thank you Marion for your comment. I agree that it’s helpful for our wellbeing to take notice of all the good things that we experience each day. These remind of us of what we have to be grateful for. This lifts our spirits as you say, and improves our health.