14 ways to fight the blues

Winston Churchill said, “If you are going through hell, keep going.”

This phrase enforces that when the going gets tough, when you are in rough waters; keep your courage, your strength and fight until you achieve victory over the situation that is creating ‘hell’ in your life.

Contrary to popular perception some of us find living in hell easier than stepping out and creating a heaven for ourselves. Living with things that are perpetually going bad numbs our senses and we resign to the situation thinking that we are victims of some celestial conspiracy and that we might as well resign to the troubles we are going through.

The fact is that we basically dance to our inner tunes. We involuntarily adjust to our ingrained ways of relating to problems and situations in our lives. Self help books, inspirational phrases and uplifting quotations help us to feel encouraged for brief periods and in short spurts only. After the stimulation of an animated phase, we are back to our old ways. Old attitude. Old fears. Old pain.

How do we change our ways of relating to adverse situations? How do we learn to keep going through hell until we reach the heaven?

Personally speaking, the ‘incurable optimist’ in me is always so impatient with being miserable that I don’t rest until I find ways to get rid of my troubles. This doesn’t mean that things going wrong in my life do not affect me. They do affect me a lot. The difference is that earlier these disheartened phases lasted long. Now they don’t last at all.

I have discovered that our thoughts work like alarm clocks. It rings exactly the way it is set. In order to hear a different ring, we need to feed different tunes; otherwise the unchained melody goes on…

I understand that I cannot control my situation, but I can develop some methods to fight the blues and keep my head up in troubled waters, until they become calm again.
In order to set my mind to new ways of coping, I have collected some powerful tunes to keep me going , when I am going through ‘hell’.

Changing old tracks

1. I believe in prayer. Prayer acts like rejuvenating rain shower on my mind. I feel cleansed and strengthened. You can choose your own personal prayer. Anything that brings power and courage to heart. Anything that renews the faith in life and goodness.
   
   
2. I try to think about happiness. The things, people and activities that made me happy. I know it sounds like a cliché, but believe me, it is extremely effective. Digging up the old dreams and happiness is one of the most effectual ways to cope with the current misery. Flipping through old letters, family albums, travel pictures and sometimes writing to old friends lift my mood. The only thing I suggest not to do is calling up a ‘past lover’. Extremely avoidable!
   
   
3. I force myself to wake up early and I make it a point to watch the sunrise. Exposure to morning sunlight is very energizing.
   
   
4. Silence. When we are troubled we experience an overactive mind that resorts to agitation, restlessness, preoccupation and constant internal dialogues. Surrounding myself with silence helps me cope with the constant chatter of my mind.
   
   
5. We all know that physical activity reduces depression, but the most preferred mode of the mind and body during periods of difficult times is inertia. I am guilty of slipping into it frequently, but forcing myself to take up an exercise like walking and yoga helps me to deal with the situation better.
   
   
6. I drink plenty of lukewarm water laced with honey and lemon juice. It helps to get rid of toxins building up inside the body.
   
   
7. I watch movies. Especially Black and White old classics.  To name a few:  Singing in the rain, It happened one night, An affair to remember and Casablanca. Very soothing.
   
   
8. To overcome my depression, I focus on developing and reinforcing a positive attitude. I know that it is easier said than done, but if you really put your mind to it, it can happen.
   
   
9. I avoid mind-numbing indulgences.  I strongly believe in the fact that drugs and alcohol are part of the problems, not solutions.
   
   
10. Adding vitamin B-complex food in my diet helps me alleviate the blues.
    
    
11. I spend time with people who love and accept me. In my case, my lovely children.They help me reaffirm my self worth. Of late, I have also created a collage of all the compliments, greeting cards, loving handwritten notes and pictures of people who have expressed their love and appreciation towards me, and have hung it on my bedroom wall. Looking at it acts like an instant lift-me-up!
    
    
12. I eat chocolates. Treating myself to my favorite snack helps me feel good. Besides that, chocolates have mood-lifting chemicals.
    
    
13. Music. The eternal food for soul. I have recently discovered that Bach’s preludes are an excellent balm for the blues. Listening to Chopin’s exquisite nocturnes while lying down in a semi dark bedroom, can even mend broken hearts.
    
    
14. I believe in what Rainer Maria Rilke said:  “Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are but princesses that are waiting to see us act just once with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything terrible is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that needs our help.”