Three Magic Words for Depression and Tough Times

Show me a man who does not profess to having been upon hard times, and I'll show you a liar.

(Well, either that or one lucky bastard.)

Even the bigshots, the Sylvester Stallones and Tony Robbinses of this world, will tell you that they did most certainly not get where they are today without having to endure goodies like stress, depression, financial rock-bottom, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles galore up front.

So, then, what's their secret?

While there certainly isn't one single answer to that one, I believe there's somewhat of a common denominator.

When normal people face hard challenges, they usually give in, give up, adapt to their new circumstances, and/or simply let things run their course.

Look at the number of people with depression nationwide. It's alarming, and it goes to show that not many people actively do something to change their current circumstances rather than let their current circumstances have their way with them.

Of course, as in the case of depression, this can be totally understandable. Sometimes we simply can't. Sometimes things need to run their course. And sometimes, like with most depressions, it really DOES get better.

Of course, we should always try to take action whenever possible. Even though things seem futile and hopeless, there's often something we can do to improve our situation. But however things are, we could always use some encouragement.

For those darkest of days, I've found this quaint little reminder. I used it a fortnight ago when I was seriously ill. Usually, I have a kickass immune system, but I felt like I literally might need extensive medical treatment, and that I was in grave danger. I mean, it was messed up.

And so, while impotently slumping on the couch like a sack of rotten apples, trembling with cold and quietly mewling from aching joints and muscles, I continually forced this one mantra through my near-feverishly-delirious mind:

THIS

WILL

PASS!

Remember those three words. Because it's these words - or any equivalent thereof - which goes through the minds of great people who endure and overcome stuff more wicked than you and I can imagine.

I've used this mantra before, but never so intensely as the other week. And while it doesn't do anything to better one's current predicament, it really does help on one's awareness and outlook.

Because... : EVERYTHING PASSES.

Neither summers nor winters last. The inevitable march of time does not give two shits about you, me, or anyone else. (And we all end up dying, and there's no Santa Claus.)

But getting stuck in a negative focus is all too easy, and we probably all know this all too well. And so, oftentimes, we could use an anchor connecting us to the positive side of things.

"But what about people who have terminal cancer, or AIDS, or [insert deadly illness of your choosing]?"

Well, there's not one saying that applies to every imaginable situation. What I'm saying is that whenever one comes upon harsh circumstances, chances are that things WILL get better.

And no matter how bleak things appear, we need to know it, and to act like it. Because that way, we set ourselves up to win. And otherwise, we set ourselves up to lose.

So the next time you fall upon a seemingly dark period, remember those three words:

"This will pass".

Let them be your light in the dark. Because, whether you can see it or not, the light really is there.

We just gotta know it, remember it, and live by it. Only then can we move with safety and confidence.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Three-Magic-Words-for-Depression-and-Tough-Times&id=9684507

The Escape

We live our lives grabbing every moment of happiness that we can. We cling to the fabulous moments and pray to get through the tough times. We enjoy the company of those who surround us in good times and bad. We treasure those relationships that are far away and strive to keep the communication going.

But there are times when life gets overwhelming. Through the loss of jobs, breakups, death and other hard times, we sometimes need a break from it. This is when the little things that we do for ourselves come into play. Everyone deals with stress differently; some might go shopping while others might find a nice quiet spot and just bask in the peacefulness of their surroundings. And then we have others who choose to forget their problems altogether and turn to drinking or drugs.

Some escape for a little while and some remain lost, or better yet consumed with their new escape plan. When you escape, it is supposed to be temporary, maybe a place to go to clear your head or take the pain away for a little while. It is when something that you turn to gets to the point of consuming your entire being, which is when it's harder to come back. Not impossible, but it will require a lot more work on your behalf. Some have been down that road and some may never have experienced it.

For those who have never ventured down the wrong road, this is not about judgement, it is about forgiving and it is about helping and praying that they find the strength to return. This is often a time when friends and relatives feel so helpless as only the person who escapes can help themselves, sometimes with the help of professionals.

Remember, you only walk in your shoes, no one else's. We all have different breaking points and we all deal with things differently. Sometimes no matter how much we reach out to someone, they turn their heads. Just keep on trying and never stop. I would never want anyone to give up on me no matter how far down the deep hole I fell. I'm sure you would want the same.

Life doesn't stop, the bills don't stop coming. If you lose your job you still have to try and make it, if you lose a loved one you still have to try and face another day without them. Whatever devastation you face today, remember tomorrow is a brand new day and sometimes that new day might just be a new beginning; maybe with a new job or maybe with the wonderful memories of a loved one, but it is a new day.

So do what you need to do to get you through the moment. Buy that new sweater, get your nails done, go out for one with the boys or find a peaceful place where the geese fly overhead, whatever you choose to do it will refresh your spirit so that you tackle things/events with a more profound feeling of yourself. The escape is only temporary, some lasting mere moments but you grab those moments and hold on to them as you do with all the moments that this wonderful life has to offer. A walk on the beach soothes the soul, a bath relaxes you, meditation offers insight and a workout will fine tune your body and soul.

All I ask is that you pray for the souls who escaped and haven't found their way back yet. Don't give up on hoping and loving them and pray they find their way back. I have an extensive resource list feel free to use it if you know of someone in need. Seek the help of professionals they can help and help you deal with it as well. Stay true to yourself and don't isolate yourself when hard times hit, there are many loving souls out there and sometimes you just have to reach out. Wishing you the very best today and always.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Escape&id=9317843

17 Quotes To Help You Through Tough Times

If you’re going through tough times it is important to keep going and to try to see the bigger picture. Remember, setbacks, failures, and tragedies are only one part of life.  These are just insignificant moments of time that will pass. And they will pass faster if you develop a more positive mindset and keep these 3 simple truths in mind to motivate yourself:

1) Problems are opportunities for growth.

2) There is always something to be grateful for.

3) You are not alone.

Trust me, I have been going through some tough times myself. 

But also, here are some of the best inspirational quotes that will lift your spirits up:

1. “Just think how happy you would be if you lost everything you have right now, and then got it back again.” – Frances Rodman

2. “Don’t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get, you’ve got to make yourself.” – Alice Walker

3. “An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it’s going to launch you into something great.” –Unknown

4. “Nobody can make you to feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

5. “Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and twice as beautiful as you’ve ever imagined.” – Dr. Seuss

6. “Don’t cry for a man who’s left you; the next one may fall for your smile.” – Mae West

7. “We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” – Frederick Keonig

8. “Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” – J.K. Rowling

9. “When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t.” – Thomas Edison

10. “Will this matter a year from now?” – Anonymous

11. “I get it now; I didn’t get it then. That life is about losing and about doing it as gracefully as possible… and enjoying everything in between.” – Mia Farrow

12. “When you stand and share your story in an empowering way, your story will heal you and your story will heal somebody else.” – Iyanla Vanzant

13. “You have to get hurt. That’s how you learn. The strongest people out there – the ones who laugh the hardest with a genuine smile, those are the people who have fought the toughest battles. Because they’ve decided they’re not going to let anything hold them down, they’re showing the world who’s the boss.” –Unknown

14. “When everything seems to be going against you, remeHenry Ford

    mber that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – 

15. “Stop looking at the past and all the things you can’t change. They’re done and over with. Now is the time for you to look to the future, grasp it by the hand, and decide where you want to go.” – Lacey Weatherford

16. “Bad things happen to good people all the time. It sucks. It’s not fair but then much of life isn’t fair. It’s how you live that matters. It’s how you deal with the bumps in the road.” – Maya Banks 

17. “We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.” – Kenji Miyazawa

    http://www.thelawofattraction.com/17-quotes-get-through-tough-times/
    

Stay Humble, Work Hard and ‘Never Ever Quit’

Jeff Banister, manager of baseball’s Texas Rangers, has triumphed over illness, grief and naysayers to reach his dream.

He fought bone cancer, osteomyelitis, fractured vertebrae, paralysis, multiple surgeries and grief. He was told—twice—that he might never walk again. But Jeff Banister, the rookie manager of the Texas Rangers, wouldn’t quit baseball.

His first health crisis began with a simple twist of his ankle while playing in a football game for La Marque High School in Texas in 1979. Banister stayed home with flu-like symptoms and agonizing ankle pain that caused him to collapse. The teenager had developed bone cancer and osteomyelitis, an infection of the bone or bone marrow, which had spread to below his knee. After surgery and several weeks in the hospital, Banister got the devastating news that, during a follow-up surgery, his leg might need to be amputated.

The leg was spared, but his condition went from bad to worse after returning home. The flu-like symptoms recurred. Seven more operations and weeks of recuperation followed. “I was given an opportunity to lie in a hospital bed and think about all of the things I would do when I got out of the hospital,” Banister, 51, says in a video on the Texas Rangers website. “For me there was no choice other than to push forward.”

He surprised everyone by returning to baseball, going on to play for Lee College, a community college in Baytown, Texas. And that’s where Banister would face a terrifying new injury.

He wasn’t originally penciled into the lineup for the last game of the 1983 fall season, but New York Yankees scout Deacon Jones wanted to evaluate Banister, so his coach, Rod Soesbe, agreed to play him for five innings. In the fifth, a base runner sprinted toward home plate, where Banister was playing catcher. As the runner tried to hurdle Banister and score, his knee slammed into Banister’s head. As Banister writhed in pain, Soesbe placed a catcher’s mitt on each side of his neck to stabilize it until paramedics arrived—an action that may have saved his life. The collision fractured three neck vertebrae and paralyzed him for 10 days. Banister underwent two more surgeries.

Eighty-five pounds lighter when discharged from the hospital, the young athlete asked his doctor, Lee Roy Lockhart, when he could play baseball again. “Jeff, you’ll never play baseball again,” Lockhart responded. “You get hit like this again, and they’re not going to repair you. They’ll just bring a bag out, put you in the bag, zip it up, and we’ll put you in the ground.”

Banister smiled as he told Lockhart, “Doc, I will play in the big leagues.”

Banister channeled Lockhart’s dire prediction into a motivating force. He relearned to walk during a year of rehabilitation. In 1985 he resumed playing baseball for Lee College, well enough to earn a scholarship to play for the University of Houston. And in 1986, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Banister in the 25th of 28 rounds of the MLB Draft, the 621st pick.

He would face tough times again as a minor leaguer: His grandfather and his 48-year-old father died a few weeks apart in 1988. His father, on the last day of his life, told Banister that people would want to know his story—words that have echoed in his ears throughout his coaching career. Banister does share his story, but his style also includes an appreciation for what his players have gone through.

As Eric Nadel, the Rangers’ National Baseball Hall of Fame radio announcer, says, “He seems to have the ability to get to people and motivate people. He wants to go to great lengths to get to know each guy as a person rather than as a baseball player, to know what makes these guys tick. With all he went through to get to the major leagues as a player, he has a very special inner strength that some people don’t have. He didn’t need somebody to motivate him.”

That drive led Banister to prove his doctor wrong. At 27 years old—an elderly rookie by baseball standards—Banister was called up from Triple-A Buffalo to play for the Pirates against the Atlanta Braves.

He made it to the big leagues on July 23, 1991.

Banister was not in the starting lineup, but manager Jim Leyland used him as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning. He hit a ground ball that Atlanta shortstop Jeff Blauser picked up and fired to first base. Banister said it seemed like forever as he “fought like hell” sprinting down the first-base line, counting every step. He beat Blauser’s throw by a fraction of a second. He had fought for—and achieved—his hit just as he had battled to reach the major leagues.

That single would be his only hit in his only at-bat of his only major league appearance. Banister’s stint in Major League Baseball would last five days before he was sent back to the minors. But he will forever hold a perfect major league batting average of 1.000: one hit in one at-bat.

Banister stayed in the minors a couple more years before ending his playing career and joining the Pirates organization as a minor league coach in 1993. He spent 29 years with the Pirates as a player, minor league manager, major league field coordinator and major league bench coach.

Last October the Texas Rangers signed Banister to a three-year contract as manager. At his introductory news conference, Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said Banister’s experience, work ethic and attitude made him the ideal manager to right the struggling team.

His attitude has carried over from his playing days into his coaching career. Banister’s Twitter page is filled with motivational quotes, such as, “Focus on the only two things you can control. Your attitude and your effort.” He signs his tweets with his hashtag “#nevereverquit.” The phrase is the slogan for the Rangers’ 2015 season, adorning everything from their website to commercials and even apparel.

“I’m not going to show up at 7 o’clock every night and go, ‘Well, we’re down two in the first [inning]. We might as well throw in the towel and walk away,’ ” Banister told fans at an event earlier this year. “The game’s not done until it’s over. You’re focused in until the last out is made. That’s my never-ever-quit attitude.”

Rangers fans and players have bought into his philosophy. “Every time I hear him talk, I want to kill someone,” 28-year-old pitcher Derek Holland jokes. “Sorry, I’m not going to murder anybody, no. He’s just got that voice. He’s a strong leader. He’s very passionate about what he wants to do. He’s one of those guys that I’m very excited to come in and play for. This guy is into the game.”

Veteran starting pitcher Colby Lewis agrees: “Once he started to talk, I was just locked in,” baseball-ese for being totally focused.

Banister carries his work ethic from the field to his home. His wife, Karen—whom he met when he was playing for the University of Houston—shares a story with fans about a night when they were watching TV, and she admired the painted walls in an infomercial. She casually mentioned the possibility of painting their daughter’s room. When she came home the next day, the walls were perfectly outlined with tape. Banister told his wife to pick the colors. (Karen Banister adds that he’s also handy at building things and doing yard work.)

Banister believes it’s important to stay humble and work hard in life and in baseball. “I’m still learning this game. I’ve had a lot of great teachers in the past. I believe that if you’re not learning, you’re not growing. If you’re not growing, you’re dying.” 

http://www.success.com/article/stay-humble-work-hard-and-never-ever-quit