Resilience is the key to overcoming depression

It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves. -- Sir Edmund Hillary 

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Depression and the thoughts that come with it can become a bad habit.

Good News of the Day:
"Happiness isn't the opposite of depression -- resilience is, according to psychologist Peter Kramer. Think of the people you most admire -- many of them didn't get where they are just by sailing through life without any negative experiences or failures. Most of them distinguished themselves by their ability to get right back up every time they fall, a truism reflected in countless inspirational quotations on the power of perseverance." This article presents seven habits of highly resilient people, with practical ways that you can improve your own ability to cope with life's challenges.

More on depression: http://www.onbeing.org/blog/depression-and-me/2968

http://www.onbeing.org/blog/students-depression-use-internet-differently/4691

Another thought on this comes from Bessel A.van der Kolk, from his book titled: Psychological Trauma. He notes that people who are able to overcome difficulties have these traits:

A sense of personal control. An ability to perceive a connection between personal actions and how they feel; a belief in their own capacity to influence the course of their lives.

Pursuit of personally meaningful tasks. The ability to be present and engaged in life. Staying active, rather than passive during challenging times.

Healthy lifestyle choices. A decreased use or avoidance of dietary stimulants of refined white sugar, caffeine, and nicotine; participation in hard exercise each week, balanced with daily periods of relaxation.

Social Support.  Relationships with others who can serve “as a buffer in dealing with difficult situations”.

Be The Change:
When faced with rejection, practice one of the seven habits listed in this article. To step it up, encourage a friend to use these habits or learn more about how inspiring individuals have harnessed their resiliency to create change.
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Use creative visualization to move past the negative thoughts:

http://www.soulfulliving.com/creative_visualization.htm



Use a mood log to help overcome the habit of negative thinking.

Here is a resource for a downloadable mood log: www.wilsontherapy.com/userfiles/29057/daily_mood_log.doc

Here is a good resource for mood charts: http://therapyworksheets.blogspot.com/2010/07/cognitive-distortions-depression-mood.html