It's pretty simple. Just decide not to be blue. Really -- act happy! (Story's HERE)
They're serious. Now, I don't think they're referring to any kind of clinical/chemical depression kind of thing, but the point is you yourself have a big influence over how you feel -- even just making yourself smile makes you feel better!
And so does doing things that are outside your comfort zone that engage you and make you think fast. Apparently, slow thinking goes along with depression -- if you get engaged in something that makes your brain race, you can leave depression behind. Just doing something quickly, even reading fast, can make you happier.
So can being thankful. And taking charge of your own thinking. And talking to strangers. And helping someone. And listening to music...
Sometimes in the morning I'm in a bad mood -- but when I'm on the radio, I speak positive and with energy and some passion. Yes, sometimes (not often) I'm faking it, but if I don't, I won't be doing anyone any good -- you wanna hear a depressed guy moaning around on your radio? It's weird -- within minutes of acting how I want to feel, I feel that way.
I've gone home and had that cloud of depression smothering my mood -- and then Brenda ignores it, acting positive and lighthearted, not letting my mood influence hers, and I snap out of it (well, usually, unless I decide I just want to feel bad and refuse to respond to help -- shame on me).
Is it phony and dumb to act happy when you're not? Maybe we're just discovering more evidence of how we're made --
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones -- Proverbs 17:22
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