I found depression to be one of the most sensitive sources of power that can expose the magic within us. As the word explains by definition, depress indicates an action of depressing something, to press or push down. By pressing down on, in other words closing off, the ‘button of our emotional reactive perception, we allow the ‘genie’ in us to emerge, releasing the magic that has been bottled up. Let me explain how I did it.
Many years ago, when I found myself in the grip of a dismal attitude, I intentionally released my ‘genie,’ took the plunge sort to speak. I experimented with my ability to hold back my spontaneous emotional reactions towards the things that were going on in my life. I was determined to learn something from having taken myself to this point of depression. Even though I felt despair was a devastating force, a terrible monster that soon sat on the ruling throne, I also understood its possible power to improve my life. I set out to find the silver lining in this gray cloud.
Accepting that I could do something, with the conviction of a child’s mind, I was able to bring about the results I was after. In order to conquer the melancholy that was engulfing me, I mustered up a strong intention. I wanted happiness not discouragement.
I learned to subdue my despair and managed to make it my ally. I was able to overturn the outcome of my hopelessness and use depression as a tool to get into a better state of mental health. When I finally learned just how to go about it, my actions empowered me. The trick resided in my wanting to take action to change the course of some very malicious habits I had acquired along the way. But before I tell you how I put on the armor of courage I want to tell you four principles you may have already known but forgotten.
The key is in the knowing. Remember how intrigued you once were in childhood by magicians? I surely was. Somehow I knew then, that I too could accomplish feats of magic. I just knew it. As it happened, I learned that the secret was in the knowing.
Go beyond Belief. Believing that you can do something simply keeps you in the same state of mind; never really accomplishing the full force of the change. In other words, it just keeps you thinking about the same emotion or in the same thought pattern.
It takes action to make changes. Watching a magician will never make you one. Action triggers the mechanics of an accomplishment.
Practice makes perfect. As a matter of fact, we all can do things that once might have seemed impossible, or considered a magical feat. The key now is in practicing. I had to learn to get past the belief that I thought I could do the trick; I had to learn to do it. Here is an example of what I’m talking about.
So, back to conquering and reversing depression, it can be one of the most invigorating accomplishments you have ever challenged yourself with. The proof is in the pudding, as the sawing goes; it applies here too. This magic is closer to you than your skin. Now just bring it out into the light. You are now on stage; perform your magic!
Here are the six easy steps I took. You will soon be on your way to making your life a magical performance, from the shadows of depression into the lights of your new adventure.
Know you are the force that has brought you to the place where you are now. You do not have to know how you got here or why you did it, just accept that your thoughts, your words and your actions have brought you to where you are at this moment. Things will change.
Know with all of your understanding that the responsibility for a change lies within you. Own it.
Move yourself now to an attitude of acceptance without guilt. You accept your depressed condition as the springboard into your next stage of your life. This position will empower you and reverse the outcome of your previous discomfort.
Use the depressed state of being as a tool to action.
Know that you will never want to find yourself in that same state of depression again. You will always be moving forward, like climbing up the steps to your next stage of performance.
Begin to act the part of a magician. Perform your magic!