Overcome Depression with Positive Thinking

Keys to Defeating Negative Thinking and Building a Good Attitude

Dec 5, 2008

Self-help books, daily prayer or meditation, appreciating everyday life, positive affirmations, and being present in the moment can all help a person overcome depression.

Depressed people who have started on the road to recovery by seeking proper treatment can enhance and encourage the healing process on their own. A major component of this healing involves retraining the mind to view the world as a more positive, exciting, and uplifting place. Self-help books, daily prayer or meditation, appreciating daily life, using positive affirmations, and being present can help accomplish this.

Find Guidance in Self-Help Books

Self-help books can assist a person in numerous ways, from understanding how one came to be and act as one does, to learning ways to retrain and reshape one’s engrained neural pathways and responses. These books can provide support and encouragement, helping to uphold one’s commitment to beating depression.

If not sure which book to choose, spend time browsing the selection at a library or bookstore. One need not limit oneself specifically to books in the self-help section. Other books, notably those on spirituality, can also lend guidance and support, shedding light on the path out of depression and into hope. Several starter suggestions appear at the end of this article.

Set Aside Time for Daily Prayer or Meditation

This might require waking up a little earlier, taking a break from television, or having some private time before bed. This is not a time to dwell on life’s problems. This is a time spent on trying to develop a deeper insight into and connection with oneself and the world at large. Many self-help books provide instructions that can guide a person through empowering prayers and/or meditation practices.

Find Joy and Wonder in Everyday Life

Appreciate what the day brings without expecting anything. Expectations set oneself up for disappointment. Instead, take pleasure in the beauty of sunshine or snow, in the food on one’s table, or in the smile of a stranger’s child playing on the playground. Laugh at the antics of squirrels. Feel grateful that one’s favorite show is on television. In retraining oneself to feel joyful from the inside out, wonder about what’s happening outside will be reborn within.

Use Positive Affirmations to Banish Negative Thoughts

Learn to love life regardless of negative occurrences. Always try to find the positive in every situation, no matter how bad. When the mind starts spiraling downward, attempt to gently remind oneself of the joys and wonders discussed above. Make a rule that for every negative thought, two positive affirmations have to be created to counter it. Use creative visualization to imagine the negative thoughts getting melted by the shining warmth of the positive affirmations.

Being Present

Make a concerted effort to focus one’s thought on being in the present moment. Dwelling on the past or fretting about the future is not productive. Not being present stifles creativity and freedom, inhibiting oneself from truly living. Staying present and focused can help a person let go of unhelpful patterns and negative thoughts that may have plagued one in the past.

Trust in the Power of Positive Thinking

Once a depressed person has sought professional treatment and is moving toward healing, they can learn to effectively combat negative thinking in a number of ways. These include self-help books, daily prayer or meditation, finding pleasure in daily living, positive thoughts, and being present. People can also employ additional self-help suggestions for overcoming depression.