Quips and Tips for Spiritual Seekers

A little mindfulness goes a long way; it can decrease feelings of depression and increase feelings of happiness (and even joy!). These ways to overcome unhappiness and depression include two tips from my ”Spiritual Seekers” partner, Gini Grey and then two tips from me; they all involve increasing mindfulness in your life.

Here’s a key to being more mindful:

“The law of attraction is really obedient,” says Lisa Nichols, who was a featured teacher in The Secret (a book about the law of attraction). “When you think of the things that you want, and you focus on them with all of your intention, then the law of attraction will give you exactly what you want, every time. When you focus on the things you don’t want – ‘I don’t want to be late,’ – the law of attraction doesn’t hear that you don’t want it. It manifests the things that you’re thinking of, and so it’s going to show up over and over again.”

If you’re depressed and unhappy, remember that it’s more effective to focus on what you want – peace, joy, fulfillment, life satisfaction, spirituality, freedom, balance — than what you don’t want. For more a more in-depth explanation of mindfulness and happiness, read The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness. And, here are our four ways to overcome unhappiness and depression by increasing mindfulness in your life…

Overcoming Unhappiness and Depression With Mindfulness

1. Be present with thoughts and feelings. Mindfulness involves being in the present moment with everything that occurs – your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Being mindful puts you into the witness or observer role where you hear thoughts as they pass through your mind, feel emotions as they arise in your body, and notice shifts in your mood and attitude when they occur. As the witness it is easier to remember that you are a spiritual being, bigger than your thoughts, unhappiness or depression. From this place of presence you can touch into your inner love and joy, and consciously shift your perspective.

2. Adopt a positive perspective. Unhappiness and depression can stem from many things, external or internal, such as experiencing the loss of a loved one, a relationship or job, or from a chemical imbalance resulting in low levels of serotonin in the brain. One common factor that researchers found with people who are depressed is that they have more negative thoughts than positive thoughts. Cognitive therapists discovered that as people adopt more realistic and positive perspectives on their life situations, their unhappiness and depression decreases. Try looking at your life through the eyes of opportunity, growth and possibilities.

3. Be aware of the weather and the full moon. Finding freedom from depression can involve paying attention to the weather! “During the holidays or on a vacation, external variables may be crucial in affecting mood and anxiety, such as sun, cold, altitude, humidity, barometric pressures, and so on,” says Harold Levinson, M.D.. “Indeed, a ‘lack of sun’ can intensify depressed feelings. And even the full moon may play a role in some individuals. By contrast, too much sun and heat may have adverse affects and thus physiologically intensify mood variability and even the responses to existing medications. In some individuals, previously helpful medications may suddenly stop working or have negative effects.” To figure out if the weather or moon is affecting your mood, note on your calendar how you feel every day of the week. After a few months, look for patterns.

4. Practice mindful physical exercises that focus on meditation, such as yoga. Yoga “can be as important as any medicine,” says Dr. Richard Usatine, co-author of Yoga RX: A Step-by-Step Program to Promote Health, Wellness, and Healing for Common Ailments. He says specific yoga movements can decrease health issues such as depression, heartburn, and asthma. Walking, cycling, or running can also reduce anxiety and even decrease the risk for dementia. Physical activity enhances sleep and improves depressed feelings by increasing blood flow to all body parts, and lifting moods naturally.

Remember that different people find different ways to cope with unhappiness and depression. For example, yoga and St John’s wort may work for one person, while another person may benefit from increased spirituality and even prescription medications, depending the the cause of their depression. When finding what works for you, remember to give each possibility a trial of at least a month.

You might also find help with The Sedona Methodwhich offers mindfulness tools for letting go of painful and difficult feelings.

Do you have any questions or thoughts on these ways to overcome unhappiness and mindfulness with depression? We welcome your comments below…