Engage in your Purpose

Finding a purpose or motivation for something is a great way to manage depression. One may notice that there is a lack of energy or drive during those moments that it feels like there is nothing really to look forward to or nothing going on in their life. It can feel mundane and lack the excitement that you are searching for. Life gets to be like that from time to time and it is okay. But living there is not going to help when it comes to managing depression. When people in the field of mental health discuss ways of managing depression they will often discuss coping skills and self-care. These two phrases are part of being engaged with yourself and your surroundings; if it leads you closer to living with purpose then it is that much better. For the sake of managing depression though, just being able to tap into a healthy, positive activity to start is the first step. Hobbies. Interests. Activities. These are categories that you can start to look into when finding the right engagement or activity that works for you. There are countless of ideas.

One of the reason that being engaged works, is that it allows your brain to shift from what it is focused on, to a new activity that is more pleasurable for you. It redirects your pathway of thinking from negative to something more positive. Part of depression is the rumination or the dwelling on negative thoughts. By engaging in an activity that you enjoy you can decrease this dwelling process and increase your mood. Most people find themselves ruminating when they have free time on their hands. So filling that free time with a more rewarding activity, has it's benefits to decrease rumination. Our minds have a wondering ability, that is, that for some people thoughts lead them down a road of more thoughts and the next thing they know they are Alice falling down the rabbit hole. While for some this may be a time for creative thinking and for brainstorming, for those that experience rumination and negative thoughts this can be the gateway to a series of negative thinking and mood changes.

There might be a case made, that if you are doing something that you enjoy and it has a purpose in your life that it is harder to be upset and have a negative outlook. What we choose to focus on is what our brains will associate, it is up to us to continuously redirect our focus to something more positive, more rewarding.

For people who are not going through depression but know someone that is this may come in the form of partaking in an activity with the person, rather than focusing on the depression that the person is going through. We are called to be with each other in these moments, not to continuously dwell on the negativity that is already consuming their every waking moment. In a later post we will see how this has been true for one particular individual, and probably so many more.

Scripture:

Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as it is the habit of some, but encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Questions:

What are you currently lacking in your life, in your relationship with God?

How can purpose fill this area of your life?

What prevents you from filling that purpose now?