Tackling Depression

[A spiritual approach to handling depression, using meditation, color and positive thinking]

So many Americans suffer from depression, it is now a serious societal problem and finding solutions to this affliction is of paramount concern. Most of us have suffered from depression at some time in our lives. When my husband died suddenly and depression gripped me, I found that I did not realize the depths it can reach until I experienced it. As they say, "Don't judge another unless you have been hammered on the anvil of despair." If you've been feeling low and haven't figured out why, here are some possible reasons, along with a few simple drugless remedies to help you through it.

Have you ever considered that this dreadful feeling may not be your own? We pick up thoughts and feelings from others. You may have slipped in on another's wave length. It could be coming from someone who is worried about you, or someone who is envious or just does not like you. But the feeling could also be coming from someone in deep trouble, calling out for help.

Become very quiet and tune in on that negativity. In the silence you can sense from what direction the dreadful feeling is coming. Send a light in that direction and say to the person or feeling, "I behold the Christ in you." If the depression is coming from someone outside yourself, you will feel it lifting. Even if the feeling is coming from your own dark side, if you send out the light and message, it will return to you like a boomerang. You receive your own blessing. This form of action helps lighten the darkness, whether it involves you or another person. It's a solution in which everybody wins and no one loses.

Many of us were taught that worrying about others indicates a caring nature, but this is seriously erroneous teaching. A young woman friend told me how her mother loved her so much, that she constantly worried about something terrible happening. To counteract this energy of worry, we sent the Christ light and healing in her mother's direction and my friend was immediately relieved. Another friend related how he loved his son so much, he worried about him all the time. I taught him the following: "Your thoughts build your world. When you think of a person or thing, you give that person or situation power and make it come alive, be it good or bad."

Worrying actually gives life to our fears. Our thoughts form our lives, and we become what we think about. If people knew how powerful their thoughts were, they would be much more vigilant about what they sent out. We must think only of things we want to materialize in our world, and never, ever think of things we do not want. Scripture states, "Be careful what you set your heart upon for you shall surely have it."

Just before you go to sleep, while you are in your alpha brain wave frequency, place in your mind the thing you most want to materialize in your life... and your mind will work all night to bring it about. If you fall asleep worrying about your loved ones, the process works the same as it does when you drift into sleep seeing them loved and safe.

The solution to worry sounds simple, but as we all know, it takes discipline to change our thinking, especially when the odds are on the side of worry and fear. Our thoughts are faith and they produce power. Power is power! And these days, negative faith works better than positive faith. Why? Because the majority of the population tends to think negatively, thereby backing up our negative thought, giving it still more power. Stress, fear, worry, anger, and depression -- all negative words and feelings -- not only cause emotional damage but also leave a psychic residue of toxins in our blood stream that manifest as aches and pains, heaviness in the head, fatigue, arthritis and problematic indigestion. Stress speeds up the aging process. Low self esteem is one of the worst offenders for leaving behind a psychic residue.

The solution for releasing negativity from your thoughts is simple. Begin to use meditation, the light and positive thinking. And while this solution works to release negative thinking, it also has the effect of removing psychic residue and slowing down the process of aging. In fact, it can actually reverse the aging process. Stop for a moment and meditate on the following sentence, "Man is the only creature on earth that can change his body -- even his world -- by the way he thinks."

Every cell in our body is aware of what we are thinking. Deepak Chopra says that our cells are "eavesdropping" on our every thought and we are constantly being changed by them. We lose a lot of power by focusing on people who are of a lower vibration than our own. Try to dwell on things and people who are of a high vibration.

Every cell in our body is totally aware of how we feel about ourselves. Regular meditation most often is the solution to almost everything. People who meditate regularly have a biological age 5 to 12 years younger than their chronological age. The way we think has a profound effect on our anatomy. Here is a technique for healing depression. Use it as a cure for negative thinking also. Sit comfortably, with your eyes closed. Inhale through your nose and exhale through the mouth. As you exhale, feel the relief as you send all negativity into outer space. When you inhale, imagine that the air is coming to you from the far reaches of the Universe. Feel it renewing every atom, every cell, and molecule, of your mind, body and spirit. Now, bring in the magic of color. Your angels recognize and respond to the colors surrounding you.

Then see yourself completely engulfed in the appropriate color. Breathe deeply and let that color rejuvenate and soothe you from head to toe. Ask yourself what you need most at this time -- to be soothed, stabilized, balanced, stimulated, uplifted, revitalized, inspired -- or perhaps all of these.

Breathe in Blue for spiritual upliftment, and for soothing of eyes and throat. Bright green is for relaxing and peace. Red helps depression and gives vigor. Orange is a mood elevator and draws in prana. Breathe in Yellow for the solar plexus and stomach and for stabilizing and balancing agitated nerves. Pink is for love and makes one feel young. Use Clear Blue for success; it is also a tremendous uplifting tool for the blood and organs.

You can heal your mind, body and spirit by visualizing the color you need and seeing yourself engulfed in the appropriate color. All bodily functions are affected by the exchange of energies. Pay attention. Picture the color bathing your body, mind and emotions. Give thanks and remember that you can come to this sanctuary of your mind at any time. Just one minute per day will change your life.

Meditation, color and positive thinking are three simple all-round solutions for alleviating the heaviness of depression, worry and fear. And the best part is... they're free and you can write your own prescription.

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By Audrey Craft Davis, Dr.

Dr. Audrey Craft Davis, author of Metaphysical Techniques That Really Work, holds workshops and seminars, and has appeared on TV. Also available for counseling. Oldsmar (813) 891-0644. Email audreycraftdavis2.1@juno.com