No matter how many books I read or audio programs I listened to I was stuck in a depression. I have heard a lot of people have the same issues of getting themselves motivated and in the right head space. While filling yourself with positive things (books, movies, music) there is more that you need.
1.) Positive Environment What do your friends talk about? Problems, negative gossip, how bad the economy is? Birds of a feather flock together and I eventually noticed that many of the people I was associating with were depressed. Sure I love my friends but it eventually wore down on me.
2.) Positive Conversation This extends on what I said about environment. What are you going to focus on? Solutions? Goals? Most people don't take time out for goal setting or really taking a look at their life and how they can make real changes to get what they want. It starts with asking the right questions. No matter how much I read I couldn't shake the thoughts I was having and it needed the outside influence of someone who wasn't emotionally invested in the problem. That's why I recommend having a coach.
A coach will keep you on track and help you ask the right questions. It may take some time to find the coach that's right for you but it is well worth it. Rarely do people invest in themselves however if you do you will begin to see results. You can expand this idea further by getting a group of people together as a support group to help each other coach and ask better questions.
3.) Positive Plan You need a plan, you need to write it down. Writing out gratitude, goals, affirmations and rules for your life. (ex "I will vent for 5 minutes then begin to work and discuss solutions) Blocking out time to work on yourself is required in our busy lives. Pick a day of the week for some "Me" time. Write in your Journal, talk to your coach or support group, reading an inspirational book. The important thing is to start doing something.
So true what you say about being around people who are depressed will bring and keep you down. It can be tempting to surround yourself with other downers sometimes as you identify with them but getting away from others with big problems really helped me become more positive.
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