Empowering Yourself: Overcoming Feelings of Uselessness and Helping Others
Alice, you’ve noted that all your friends have many problems, and you feel that you’re unable to help them. Furthermore, you feel like a burden, a person who makes things worse for others, despite your best efforts. Many of us have similar feelings, but let's explore how you can overcome these challenges and feel better about yourself.
Understanding Depression and Anxiety
Depression and anxiety often go hand in hand. They can cloud your perception of reality, making it difficult to see the positive aspects of your life. Have you received a clinical diagnosis of depression from a psychiatrist? It’s important to have a proper diagnosis, as depression can manifest in various ways, from dysthymia (chronic low mood) to more severe forms of depression.
Medical Check-ups and Supplements
The first step towards addressing your mental health is to get checked for Vitamin D levels. A deficiency in Vitamin D can contribute to mood disorders. Ensure that any deficiencies are addressed to support your overall well-being.
Finding Engagement in Your Life
Your next step should be to understand why you are not fully engaged in your life. Is it because of external factors like work stress, unstable interpersonal relationships, or internal thoughts and beliefs that hold you back? Understanding this 'reason' can help you work on overcoming it.
The Power of Choice in Feelings
It's crucial to recognize that how you feel on a daily basis is a choice. Often, we blame external factors for our sadness or anxiety, such as a friend's behavior or a lack of a job. However, it's the thoughts you have that drive your feelings.
Angry thoughts lead to angry feelings, which lead to angry actions. Similarly, happy thoughts lead to happy feelings and happy actions. The key is to choose the thoughts that bring you joy and positivity. This can be challenging, but with practice, it becomes easier to generate positive thoughts.
Identifying and Challenging Beliefs
A belief is simply a thought that you have repeated over and over. If you believe that you are a burden and that you make things worse for everyone, this belief is just that—a thought. It is not real. Just like Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy, these beliefs can disappear if you choose to change your way of thinking.
Appreciating Your Life
Name the things you have that make your life extraordinary. You are living in one of the safest countries on earth, with the best weather and numerous opportunities to thrive. You already have an extraordinary life. You can see, hear, breathe, walk, talk, dance, hike, and enjoy a multitude of activities that others may yearn for. You can contribute positively, helping animals, baking, writing, traveling, and creating art. Your existence is a gift to the world.
Inspiration from Within
Often, inspiration comes from within. The term inspiration means to breathe in, suggesting that this is a crucial function of our being. Inspiration can be found in your spirit, which is within you. Connecting with your spirit through meditation can help you find the inspiration to overcome challenges and live a fulfilling life. Meditation is a powerful tool to quiet your mind and allow your inspiration to come to the surface.
To meditate, find a quiet space and sit quietly. Focus on not thinking at all. Be the silence in between the musical notes. This practice will help you reach a state of inner peace, where your inspiration can surface and be heard. You will find answers and guidance when you connect with your inner self.
Conclusion
Life is a journey of personal growth and self-discovery. By addressing your feelings of uselessness, engaging in your life, choosing positive thoughts, and connecting with your inner spirit, you can overcome these challenges. Every day is an opportunity to rewrite your story and live a life full of purpose and fulfillment.