Life is Good

I am Happy

despite my depression.

Recovery from depression 

means that 

YOU

 manage it 

rather than letting 

IT manage you.

I am Happy 

because I have a loving Savior

who knows me by name,

who knows me personally,

and who loves me perfectly.

I am never alone 

in this trial

because I have HIM.

Push Past Your Fears

To not take counsel from our fears means that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ overrules our fears and that we can press forward with a steadfastness in Him. To not take counsel from our fears means that we trust in God's guidance, assurance, and timing in our lives."

—David A. Bednar, "Christ Overrules Our Fears"
Topics: Fear, Faith

This is very applicable to my life right now.

My hubbie  & I have decided to 

take a huge leap of faith

with regards to how 

he provides for our family.

Surprisingly, I have been 

very much at peace, 

which is huge for me. 

Normally, change is a trigger 

for my depression. 

I feel that my hubbie & I are 

pushing past any fears

& we're definitely NOT 

taking any "counsel" from them...

also known as 

letting your fears stop you 

from obtaining your dreams .

Before reading my previous post I had typed most of this one. Standing in Holy Places in definitely something I need.

"Discipleship is the pursuit of holiness and happiness. It is the path to our best and happiest self."

—Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Of Regrets and Resolutions", Liahona and Ensign, October 2012

When I am depressed                                                                                                                                    & need help pulling myself out of the                                                                                                           slump I get into,

I try to surround myself                                                                                                                   with things that are                                                                                                                                    

holy.

Some things that I do or have done in the past are:

~Go to the temple                                                                                                                                         (I'm always on a spiritual high after I go).

~Listen to the scriptures                                                                                                                               (It's easier to listen when I'm depressed,                                                                                         because I'm usually distracted & I have a hard time concentrating).                                                        The Bible    The Book of Mormon   Doctrine & Covenants    Pearl of Great Price

~Listen to the Mormon Channel                                                                                                            (I love this! It's a clean & uplifting alternative to TV or movies).                                                   Here's the link: Mormon Channel

~Play uplifting music                                                                                                                             (Music is such a healing balm to our spirits).

~SERVE~                                                              

(My stake president (ecclesiastical leader) 

promised me 

relief from depression 

as I seek to serve 

those in my church 

& others around me).

~~~HOME~~~
( Doing the above "steps" 
towards
holiness 
invites the Holy Ghost into my home...thereby my own home becomes a 

Standing in Holy Places

"We must be vigilant in a world which has moved so far from that which is spiritual. It is essential that we reject anything that does not conform to our standards, refusing in the process to surrender that which we desire most: eternal life in the kingdom of God. The storms will still beat at our doors from time to time, for they are an inescapable part of our existence in mortality. We, however, will be far better equipped to deal with them, to learn from them, and to overcome them if we have the gospel at our core and the love of the Savior in our hearts."

Thomas S. Monson, "Stand in Holy Places", Liahona and Ensign, November 2011

When I stand in holy places

and am careful of the things I

watch, listen to and participate in,

it's easier for me to feel the Holy Ghost

and I am better able

to weather the "storm" of

depression in my life.

The temple is the only place

where I don't feel depressed

and that's why I go

there so often.

Temples are definitely

holy places.

Rolling up my Sleeves and Getting to Work

"The Lord’s way is not to sit at the side of the stream and wait for the water to pass before we cross. It is to come together, roll up our sleeves, go to work, and build a bridge or a boat to cross the waters of our challenges."

—Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Providing in the Lord's Way", Liahona and Ensign, November 2011

For the past 8 years

or so I felt like I was

just waiting for this trial to pass.

I was wandering in the wilderness

as it reads in  1 Nephi 17:4,

"And we did sojourn for the space of many years, yea, even eight years in the wilderness."

Lehi's family was "sojourning" but
I definitely just wandered.
I didn't feel like I was making progress or

moving forward in my life.

I sort of just let my depression take over,

wandered about in the "wilderness"

and waited "for the water to pass."

The last year and half

I've been fighting back

and trying to take control

over my own destiny.

I usually can't control whether or not

depressing thoughts come into my mind

but I can control how long I let them stay.

Staying on the Path

A few weeks ago

I felt like I had reached my limit.

I was sooooo tired

of being depressed.

I told my husband,

"One of the hardest

things I face in

 dealing with depression

is that I feel

like I am doing everything right

and yet I'm not happy."

Today I watched a video

(about someone who also deals

with a mental illness)

that echoed what I had said earlier to my husband.

She said,

"It was just so hard for me to understand

why [having a mental illness] happened,

especially

when I was being so faithful

 and trying so hard to do what

 Heavenly Father

wanted me to do."

The challenge is

to keep doing what

I need to do

in order to return to my

Heavenly Father.

I know He is aware of me,

I know He knows how unhappy

I feel at times,

and I know He will send the

comfort and help

that I so desperately

need.

Below is a link to the video I watched.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=1146&sid=19704326&title=living-with-mental-illness-and-social-anxiety



Seeking after Praiseworthy Things

I love reading about or watching inspiring stories.

It's so uplifting

as I see other people

face obstacles

in their own lives

and overcome them

and then go on to help others.

The following is a story about

a 10 time cancer survivor.

TEN TIMES!!

Wow.

His Attitude

and Faith

are amazing.

The news article on his story reads,
"...he pushes on with faith that
God has a reason for afflicting him.
In fact, Travis says
he believes that he is blessed
to have such a 'visual' trial.
People know that he is sick,
and everyone rallies
to support him
and his family."

He knows what his purpose here on earth is.

 

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=1137&sid=21124706&title=man-stricken-with-cancer-10-times-considers-himself-blessed#ooid=xxNTBjNTosEWfKaIrPNOnRB53ZGBuhhJ