An Antidote for Depression

If you are noticing a dip in your mood, there are a variety of things that you can look at and try to work on. Perhaps you are eating more fast food, not working out, have hormonal changes, are taking certain medications, or are hanging out with negative people. All these factors will contribute to a dip in your mood. However, there are other factors that play a role in mood that require you to be honest and open with yourself. It is not always easy fessing up to having a pessimistic outlook, acknowledging that you enjoy throwing yourself a pity party, or becoming aware of the fact that you feel you have lost direction in your life.

Although these areas are not easy to examine, the reality is that they are necessary to look at in order to be true to yourself, find fulfillment, and get that pep in your mood back. Here are 3 areas in your life you can assess when your notice a mood drop:

1. Check your Attitude

A dip in mood could mean a dip in the way that you are seeing your world. With the hecticness of life it is easy to slip into negative thinking at times. But it is also important to catch the bout of pessimism and work through it. In order to work through a negative mood you have to start looking at more of what you do have as opposed to all the things you don't have. Being grateful and aware of all things that you have earned, received and been given is what makes our life fulfilling and upbeat. The more you focus on what you have the more you begin to feel positive about life. You will also notice more opportunities, supports and friendships as you refocus your vision. When checking on your attitude look to see if your focus is more on what you do have or what you don't have.

2. Note Your Ability to be Resilient

Resilience is the ability to bounce back up after life tries to knock you down. If you are noticing that the bouncing back is more like falling and staying down, perhaps your level of resilience is low. While we should all be grateful for each day, the reality is life also delivers trials that don't go unnoticed. When the trials build up and we do not have some sort of release for the stress that builds, we begin to lack the energy (or resilience) to bounce back up after we are hit. In order to increase your resilience, take stressors off your plate. Sit back and look at what is weighing you down in life that you no longer need to carry. Then, take that off your back so you are freer to bounce back when you get knocked down.

To build up your resilience, you can also stay ahead of your challenges. Reflect on some major barriers that could potentially lie ahead of new projects or goals and put a basic plan into place to be prepared for those barriers. This does not mean to let fear rule you as you think about every little detail that could go wrong, but it does mean acknowledging that barriers arise and you can prepare become adaptable and flexible in order to overcome those challenges.

3. Evaluate Your Passion

One of the hardest times in life is when you realize that you have lost a spark. That spark is often referred to as passion and sometimes we lose it in our personal or professional lives. It can be hard reflecting on life at missed opportunities or regrets. But focusing your time on opportunities that you have missed puts your focus in the past. The past is in a time you cannot get back and thus it distracts you from the opportunities in the present. Opportunities are around you each day. In fact, every problem is an opportunity. Opportunities spark passion.

When you have lost passion in your life you may find that you come to two roads. The first road allows you to work to re-spark up passion. Take this time to review or clarify your visions in life or business. Reflecting on why you started a mission or goal and taking a moment to look back at all the hardships you have already made it through might empower you to keep pushing with desire and renewed passion. Rekindling your passion will boost your self-esteem, creative side and generate a whole bunch of happiness.

The second road you may face when you have lost your passion is the road of brand new beginnings. Instead of dwelling on time lost for something that did not work out, channel that energy into working on new passions. Going back to the start line is sometimes the biggest step forward you could ever take. For many people they lose passion in their careers, and do not leave their jobs. If you choose not to leave a situation in your life where passion no longer exists, be sure to search for outside of work passions like taking up certain sports, hobbies or activities that will create passion once more in your life. Creating passion in one sector of your life will rub off in others and give your mood an overall boost.