Hi there. Adrenaline was published just two weeks ago and we had this section called Restpiration Answers where we answered some questions from some precious individuals.
However, at a glance, it is often tempting to doubt the rationale and practicality of the answers provided.
So in this post, I’m just taking the time to establish the basis of the answers provided so that you can also appreciate and fully grasp them. For today’s post, we’ll consider a question from Jane. Enjoy…
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Question
Hi Restpiration. I find the things you share very helpful. I’m Jane, a high school student. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been an emotional wreck. Depression seems to be the norm for me and I find it impossible to shake it off. I try doing a lot of fun stuff to cope but nothing seems to be working and that makes me mad at life and myself. Is it that I’m just wired this way or there’s something I can do about it?
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Answer
Hi Jane. Thank you for opening up about how you feel. It really takes some courage to do so. I love how you present two options at the end of your question- “is that just it?” or “there’s something I can do”.
I’m pretty sure you know the answer even better than I do. The only reason why depression seems to be a problem for you is because that isn’t your design. If it were, you’ll feel fantastic about being depressed.
Depression is essentially a thought that manifests as an emotion. When we focus on the emotion of depression, it makes it look all too powerful and invincible. However, considering depression in it’s basic form- thought- makes it controllable.
Yeah, if there’s something to do, then that’s it… realize that depression is nothing else but a fleeting stray thought. Thoughts come and go. We only entrench them when we begin showering them with attention.
Instead of showering depression with unmerited attention, rather shower that attention on the thoughts of clarity and peace that come in between the depressive ones.
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Foundation
There’s more to us than our experiences. We aren’t our experiences; at best, we only experience our experiences.
Who we are is that being that witnesses those experiences. Thus, we need to always draw that line of separation because when you believe that you aren’t any better than your experience, you’ll be embracing something lesser than your true self.
Experiences are thought created. All day long, we create our experiences through the thoughts we ponder on and accept. Thoughts come to us all. We all think stuff from time to time. It’s the flow of life.
Basically, the same thoughts arise in all of us as humans. It may vary in some aspects but the foundation remains consistent in all humans and depressive thoughts are no exception.
Why one person seems to be held down by depressive thoughts and the other seems never to be depressed lies in the way they relate to those depressive thoughts. One sees depressive thoughts as indicative of self while the other sees them as mere thoughts which have no inherent meaning; just some random irrational emotional stuff.
When you understand that thoughts, even depressive ones are normal and true for every human, it reduces the emotional tension that comes with them. Furthermore, it makes you a good observer; just witnessing depression as it rises and wanes without getting yourself dirty in the action.
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Love,
Restpirant Jerome
Restpiration 