There are times, times in all our lives when we reach the very dark shadows that make up the less enjoyable side of life, mark my words you will get to that point on more than one occasion. For some, it is enough to send them into a spiral of depression and anxiety with the added feeling of little self worth stabbing you in the back on your way down, for others it is but a challenge that presents itself and must be taken on at face value with all the gusto of a soldier on the battlefield. Whichever way you react, if you continue to suffer it will begin to wear you down, like a drill that hasn't the singular power to sink a battleship but left for a few weeks to make enough holes can be as paralyzing as the mightiest torpedo.
How we handle the tough times we get in a lifetime determine who we are and what we do with what we are presented with. Someone who would throw the towel in the moment a black cloud appears would clearly be a risk in management, as tough decisions have to be made sometimes and shying away from them is a crime in itself, on the other hand if that same manager has no idea of the depth of trouble or problem he faces then he can be a loose cannon and almost as big a liability as the person who immediately quits.
I myself always look at problems as a challenge with a twinge of mindful sadness that something has yet again cropped up in my life that needs my full undivided attention, sometimes it's an immediate fix and sometimes only a measured response over a longer period will do the trick, the only sure thing i have learned during my time on this earth is that worry will cloud your judgement and sap energy that you can put to better use elsewhere, so you are better off dealing with the issue head on, attack is the best form of defence.
That said, when you are in the middle of a firefight it's difficult to focus on anything other than the issue you have been presented with. Problems tend to have a habit of consuming your every working and playing thought and sometimes even your sleeping thoughts. If it affects your sleep then you are far more likely to be worn down quicker than if you can take it to the bedroom door and then forget about it, the last thing you need when faced with issues is less sleep. In my own case I have usually been able to sleep quite well when under pressure, more to do with the fact that i have been there so many times before and am now quite used to it, than anything wise or special about me. I tend to categorise issues into seriousness, if the problem can be solved the next day then there is no point in worrying about it overnight, if its something that will take a few days to put right then I will put it to the back of my mind, not forget it, perhaps even mull it over on the odd occasion, but on the whole I will monitor the situation and give a measured response.
The third grade of problem is the nagging one that won't go away, you can't easily fix and these, by their very nature are the one's that will lead you down a long dark path along which there may be very little light and precious few exits. These are the one's that test you.
I view these problems in several ways, firstly, you are more than likely NOT the only one to have ever been in that position and secondly no matter how bad the situation there is ALWAYS someone worse off than you in life at that very moment and thirdly there is nothing more IMPORTANT to you than simply breathing...yes, I said, simply breathing, think about it for a second or two. If you now look at all the words in capitol letters on the page they spell out a sentence which I use to help me through the tougher times. You will meet bullies, idiots, nasty people, clueless people, heartless people, all sorts with their own insecurities and issues, but you must focus on you, you are the most important thing in your life and never forget it.
If I was to offer one other piece of advice about the pitfalls of depression it would be that when you feel there is nothing but dark clouds ahead, take sollas out of the smallest piece of good news and magnify it as many times as you like, keep that positive thought with you for when the pressure is at it's worst for you, keep that one single thought and use it as your pressure release valve..bring it to the front of your thoughts and concentrate on it when the pressure is at it's worst, you will be amazed at the calming effect it has..
As you can tell, i am no Dr and even less a teacher, I am simply penning my thoughts about an issue that has been in my life's playground many times. If I have helped you get through your next major issue by only the smallest amount then it's been worth putting keyboard to screen, if it's been no use at all well, I thank you for taking the time out to at least read the article, as you know from the above, I will have no problem with handling that problem at all !.
How we handle the tough times we get in a lifetime determine who we are and what we do with what we are presented with. Someone who would throw the towel in the moment a black cloud appears would clearly be a risk in management, as tough decisions have to be made sometimes and shying away from them is a crime in itself, on the other hand if that same manager has no idea of the depth of trouble or problem he faces then he can be a loose cannon and almost as big a liability as the person who immediately quits.
I myself always look at problems as a challenge with a twinge of mindful sadness that something has yet again cropped up in my life that needs my full undivided attention, sometimes it's an immediate fix and sometimes only a measured response over a longer period will do the trick, the only sure thing i have learned during my time on this earth is that worry will cloud your judgement and sap energy that you can put to better use elsewhere, so you are better off dealing with the issue head on, attack is the best form of defence.
That said, when you are in the middle of a firefight it's difficult to focus on anything other than the issue you have been presented with. Problems tend to have a habit of consuming your every working and playing thought and sometimes even your sleeping thoughts. If it affects your sleep then you are far more likely to be worn down quicker than if you can take it to the bedroom door and then forget about it, the last thing you need when faced with issues is less sleep. In my own case I have usually been able to sleep quite well when under pressure, more to do with the fact that i have been there so many times before and am now quite used to it, than anything wise or special about me. I tend to categorise issues into seriousness, if the problem can be solved the next day then there is no point in worrying about it overnight, if its something that will take a few days to put right then I will put it to the back of my mind, not forget it, perhaps even mull it over on the odd occasion, but on the whole I will monitor the situation and give a measured response.
The third grade of problem is the nagging one that won't go away, you can't easily fix and these, by their very nature are the one's that will lead you down a long dark path along which there may be very little light and precious few exits. These are the one's that test you.
I view these problems in several ways, firstly, you are more than likely NOT the only one to have ever been in that position and secondly no matter how bad the situation there is ALWAYS someone worse off than you in life at that very moment and thirdly there is nothing more IMPORTANT to you than simply breathing...yes, I said, simply breathing, think about it for a second or two. If you now look at all the words in capitol letters on the page they spell out a sentence which I use to help me through the tougher times. You will meet bullies, idiots, nasty people, clueless people, heartless people, all sorts with their own insecurities and issues, but you must focus on you, you are the most important thing in your life and never forget it.
If I was to offer one other piece of advice about the pitfalls of depression it would be that when you feel there is nothing but dark clouds ahead, take sollas out of the smallest piece of good news and magnify it as many times as you like, keep that positive thought with you for when the pressure is at it's worst for you, keep that one single thought and use it as your pressure release valve..bring it to the front of your thoughts and concentrate on it when the pressure is at it's worst, you will be amazed at the calming effect it has..
As you can tell, i am no Dr and even less a teacher, I am simply penning my thoughts about an issue that has been in my life's playground many times. If I have helped you get through your next major issue by only the smallest amount then it's been worth putting keyboard to screen, if it's been no use at all well, I thank you for taking the time out to at least read the article, as you know from the above, I will have no problem with handling that problem at all !.
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