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Overcoming Depression

Help and tips for getting over depression

Karin Stewart

Dave Du Plessis survives being shot in the Amazon

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Dave Du Plessis, a South African from Durban is an adventurer. All adventurers know that you face risks when pushing boundaries. But then who wants to live life from an armchair, cocooned in safety. Dave has been in the news because he was shot while paddling a kayak in the Amazon. The fact that he is alive is a miracle and has much to do with his determination for life.

Wanting to know more about this incredible man I had a look at his blog and found these words which can truly inspire all of us.

Take Action 

“Learn to take action, coupled with thought, determination and faith in your ability. That brilliant business idea you have – put it into physical form, make the idea tangible and physical. That person you want as a partner – don’t just say great things do great things, don’t say Love, DO Love. Take action, physical action and results will appear, maybe not the results that you ideally believe should be in place, but remember that what ever is out there, that system has foresight that humans lack. We don’t see the BIG, REALLY BIG picture – the universe’s governing system does and this only becomes apparent when taking action with belief and faith in you.

Don’t sweat the small stuff!

Don’t sweat the small stuff either. For example I knew why I wanted to go for such a project, I never knew how and still don’t know how it will turn out – the ‘how’s’ are up in the air and not for me to decide. I decide the ‘why’s’. That life governing system creates the ‘how’s’. Know, to your core, ‘why’ you have to do something and take action, the ‘how’ will fall into place. The unknown ‘how’ is what makes life beautiful, spontaneous and incredible!

Embrace the why’s, faith in the how’s!

Imagine if you knew how everything turned out? There would be no surprise, excitement, lessons, spontaneity, change and all those other words that evoke the most incredible human emotions. There would be no unknown, no butterflies, no goose bumps and no tears. Embrace the why’s, faith in the how’s!

To live is action

To Live is an action, not a thought alone. Thoughts are your blueprint so make sure they are structured to enable your actions to produce the results.
Think to Live, Live through Action.

‘DO or DO NOT, there is no TRY’ – Yoda

Live Inspired.” – Thank you Dave for these words of inspiration. We wish you a speedy recovery.

Ref: http://worldwonderer.co.za/

Other posts of inspirational people: Winning starts in the head – Olympics 2012,                    Paralympics London 2012

Paralympics 2012 London

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“When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade!”

What a glib saying but this is the phrase that came to mind as I watched the opening ceremony of the London Paralympics. Tears came to my eyes as I thought of how these 4,200 Paralympians who, despite incredible handicaps, were setting out to achieve what seemed like the impossible.

I was mesmerized by the dancing of double amputee David Toole, aged 48. David is part of Candoco, a professional company of disabled and non-disabled dancers. This 3ft 2in tall dancer (with no legs) has traveled the world performing in different shows. He is also a successful actor. Absolutely amazing!

“Look up and break the glass ceiling and fly!” These were words spoken to Miranda.

“Look up to the stars, not to the ground!” These words were spoken by Professor Stephen Hawking, a man with one of the most brilliant minds ever. He certainly didn’t let his physical disabilities stop him from looking up to the stars and achieving greatness!.

So many people give up on life when faced with a handicap, whether physical or mental or an obstacle in life. Sometimes it’s easy to become a victim of circumstance. Looking at how these Paralympians have achieved despite all odds is truly inspirational.

Stephen Hawking:
“The Paralympic Games is also about transforming our perceptions of the world. We’re all different. There’s no such thing as a standard or ‘run of the mill’ human being but we share the same human spirit. What is important is that we have the ability to create.This creativity can take many forms from physical achievements to theoretical physics.

“However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. The Games provide an opportunity for athletes to excel, to stretch themselves and become outstanding in their field. So let us together celebrate excellence, friendship and respect.

Good luck to you all!”

 

Road to Wisdom

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“A man is getting along on the road to wisdom when he begins to realize that his opinion is just an opinion“. Author unknown.

The other day I was sorting through a notebook and found this quote. Wise words indeed! So often we put down our own opinions, criticize ourselves for even having aired our opinion, especially if the person we’re talking to disagrees with us. This is often an issue with low self-esteem so this could be an area that needs to be worked on.

An  opinion is just an opinion. It’s not right, nor wrong and you’re entitled to your own opinion no matter what others may say!

If you tend to be self-critical and automatically put yourself down for having said “the wrong thing”, just remind yourself that it’s fine to have an opinion different to others, after all it’s just an opinion! Stop the excuses and apologies.

“A wise man gives other people’s opinion as much weight as he does his own.” Author unknown.

Another quote I found. How respectful is this, to be so valued by the person you’re talking to. If, on the other hand, you tend to dismiss others opinions, remember this quote, you’ll certainly gain respect.

Related posts, written from different perspectives: Develop good self esteem and Achieving good self esteem

 

‘Attitude’ – Charles Swindoll

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“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.
Attitude, to me, is more important than facts.
It is more important than the past, than station, than money,
Than circumstances, than failures, than success,
than what other people think or say or do.
It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill.
It will make or break a company … a church … a home.

The remarkable thing is, we have a choice every day
regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.
We cannot change our past … we cannot change the fact
that people will act in a certain way.
We cannot change the inevitable.
The only thing we can do
is play on the one string we have,
and that is our attitude …

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.
And so it is with you …” – Charles Swindoll

Do dogs really need life-jackets?

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Recently my husband and I went on holiday to Taiwan, to see our son and his family.  It was mid-summer and very hot and humid. So it was a real treat spending a few days at a beach resort where swimming was like jumping into a pleasantly warm bath.

Life there is very different to South Africa where I live so I enjoyed being an ‘observer’, and soaking up the culture.

THEN ….

I gazed across into the water and saw two dogs swimming in the sea. That sounds okay doesn’t it? These dogs were Labradors, water dogs who love swimming, given half a chance. But, I couldn’t believe it that the owners had put these dogs into life-jackets. Not dog life-jackets but life-jackets designed for humans! I’ve never heard of dogs needing life jackets to get into water! (So I did get quite a surprise when I found quite a selection of ‘dogs in life-jackets’ on Google Images).  They either love water or hate water and will behave accordingly. I’d love to have known what these dogs were thinking!

This got me thinking … 

In an attempt to be helpful we can also ‘kill’ others with kindness. Fixing up other people, even if they haven’t asked for help, can make us feel worthwhile and feel good. It’s all about ourselves, actually and little to do with the other person. But, when we try fixing up people, putting them in life-jackets, when they haven’t asked, can have disastrous effects.

I wondered whether the dogs would try resisting this so-called ‘help’ from their owner? It might want to bite, but only a fool bites the hand that feeds. Maybe the thought was there!

Helping others

It’s good to help others, but not like the dog owners, insisting on helping when no help is really needed. It might make us feel needed and worthwhile but can actually harm the other person. The Labradors could even drown if their human designed life-jackets got caught on some debris. In the same way we can ‘drown’ others by creating dependence.

Some people unconsciously encourage others dependence. A clue to recognizing a person’s unhealthy need for others dependence is when they say or even complain about how much the other person ‘needs’ them, and maybe also how ungrateful the other person is.

How to help

  • Believe in another person’s ability to grow and solve their own problem – the Labradors, given a chance could swim without the life-jackets!
  • Don’t just go ahead and try fixing-up another person – that’s impolite and disrespectful.  Be careful! Your intentions might be good, but you’re giving the message that you know better how to live the other person’s life than they do. Don’t be surprised if the person being ‘helped’ turns round and ‘bites’ you. You’ll become the victim and will undoubtedsly become resentful of how the other person has treated you – ‘after all you’re only trying to help’. (If you recognize this situation, click here for more insights on co-dependence.)

By all means throw a life-jacket to a friend who needs it, but don’t strap a life-jacket or a strait-jacket onto a friend who doesn’t!