When darkness falls…

It happens to everyone (so I am told). Things in your life seem fine, nothing significant is bothering you, yet you feel depressed. Sometimes you go to bed in a good mood and wake up wishing you could stay in bed all day. No matter the cause, the feeling of darkness washes over you and sadness fills your soul. Why does this happen and what do you do?

 The why is fairly easy. Who knows? Sometimes there are obvious reasons we feel down. Maybe someone was grumpy with us or a person we love said something hurtful. Other times, there are reasons but they aren’t so obvious. Perhaps it’s an anniversary of a sad event and while you recall the feelings, the reason for them escapes you. But what about the times when there simply is no explanation? What do you do then? Lean in.

 Leaning in is the idea that fighting back against a feeling often makes it worse. You try so hard to fix yourself that it is easy to feel broken or like things will never get better.  Rather than do that, what if you just relax, feel what you’re feeling, and tell yourself that this too shall pass? Because it will. It always has before. Let that knowledge reassure you that bouts of depression are temporary and the sun will surely shine again.

 Leaning in doesn’t mean just allow yourself to be consumed by sadness. It means acknowledging the sadness and taking steps to comfort yourself rather than beating yourself up for feeling badly in the first place. Sit outside in the sun. Rest. Drink some tea. Talk to a friend. Read a good book. Write in your journal. And whatever you do, please be kind to yourself. Because don’t you deserve the love and support (I can answer that for you- YES!).