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photo by Dominic Morel

Do you ever have one of those days when life just seems depressing? Most of us do. If we wallow in the mud of our depressing mood, we end up covered in mental and emotional yuck. Here are 10 things to do to climb out of a mudhole of depression.

1. Read through some Psalms and remember that God’s love for you is not based on your mood. He loves you even when you can’t feel his presence.

2. Send an appreciation card to someone who has done something nice for you.

3. Set one goal to accomplish today. Make it attainable and not overwhelming. Then do it!

4. Go for a jog or a walk, and focus on the details of creation around you. Look at anything that grows, identify the smells coming your way, and listen for new sounds.

5. Make a list of 30 blessings in your life.

6. Take a lunch to the park and watch the children playing. Pray for them and their parents.

7. Write a list of how God has used you in the lives of other people.

8. Take coffee to the church secretary.

9. Play racket ball or swim. Exercise adjusts the chemicals in your brain, which helps your mood.

10. Get alone and pour your heart out to God. Ask for his strength and joy.

Still in the mudhole? Check out Help Guide for more suggestions on fighting depression.

What have you found helpful to do when faced with feelings of depression? (Oh, and don’t forget to walk the dog.)

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

Having a difficult day? Did you know that one of the most spiritual things you can do when you feel down is to dance?

God dances. And he dances when we are in the midst of difficulty. And it is us that he dances with. And he dances with intensity. Zephaniah 3:16 –17 paints a picture of this when it uses the Hebrew word “guwl” for the word “rejoice.” “Guwl” means “to spin about” or “dance violently.”

“On that day they will say to Jerusalem, ‘Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice (spin about and dance violently) over you with singing’” (NIV)

So if your circumstances bring you down, go out and dance. Let your body express your prayer for hope, love, and laughter. Don’t let your hands hang limp. And as you dance, imagine the Lord of the Dance spinning about and dancing violently as he sings his love song over you.

Yes, you may feel a little strange dancing when you don’t feel like it, especially if the Lord is your unseen partner. But who cares what people think. It was Angela Monet who said, “Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.”

The Hopi people have a saying: “To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak.” Let your heart speak.

Have you ever danced in the face of difficulties? How did that change you?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

Having a hard day? Life isn’t always fair or easy, but changing your perspective can change how you approach life. Grab the Kleenex and learn from someone who knows–Patrick Henry Hughes.

If you received this post via an RSS feeder or by email and cannot see the video, please stop by the Holy in the Daily blog to view it. It will make your day, I promise!

Patrick teaches me to be thankful for what I have and to use what God has given me for His glory! Focusing on the negative will not move me forward.

What are you doing with the gifts and talents given to you by God? What did the Spirit Holy drop into your spirit as you watched this short clip?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

To learn more about Patrick Henry and his new book, I Am Potential, click here.

932372_stand_alone_treeHave you ever felt a twinge of loneliness slip in at Christmas? I have, and not for lack of family or holiday spirit—both abound at my house. 

Such moments sneak up unexpectedly, unbalancing expectations and causing me to wonder if my emotional health is declining. My husband is the one who suffers depression, not me—at least that is my reasoning.

Yet, I’m learning that part of experiencing the Holy includes visitations of loneliness, whether in the quiet of my study or hosting a holiday party. How can I long for God if I do not know the feel of lonely? How can Christmas have any depth unless I first experience aloneness?

Advent calls us to wait—wait for the One who has said he will never leave us or forsake us. What twinges of loneliness have marked your days this Advent season? How well are you waiting?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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