PURPOSE vs. DEPRESSION

The natural antidote for depression and anxiety, and pretty much every other negative is, purpose.
No matter what our spiritual flavor, or lack of it, we all share one thing in common, the overwhelming need for a purpose. What's yours?

WE ARE WHO WE THINK WE ARE

“If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. [Mark 9:23]”

I was reading a book the other day that used this bible quotation to make a point about the power of thought and the ability each of us has to create our reality. I think the most important thing about this is that we are always creating our own reality, whether we believe we can or not. The other thing about the biblical reference is that it doesn't state that we have to believe in somebody else to fulfill our dreams but to believe in the dream itself. Once again, proof that we are responsible for our own life, not our parents, not our boss, not our spouse nor the stranger down the street, not the government, school, church or even, God. Just us. Like my friend Mike Dooley says, " Thoughts become things, choose the good ones."

MORE LESSONS FROM THE TRAIL

"When I was young...it was more important to get to the end of the trip than enjoy the journey."

inspired by a thought from THE WEST COAST TRAIL: One Step at a Time

I've often wondered what it really means to "enjoy the journey." So many things keep pulling us this way and that as we try to balance work, home, family, finances, fitness, spirituality and the million other things competing for our time and energy. In retrospect, we kept learning the same lesson over and over every day while we were hiking the West Coast Trail. We were constantly torn between our need to get to the next campsite and the incredible views and natural beauty that stood in front of us at every moment. In truth, we didn't stop nearly often enough to enjoy what was staring us in the face. Our focus was clearly on the next place to set our foot down without falling off a slippery log, caroming off a ladder or sinking into the mud, all the while trying to maintain some artificial timetable that we had established. The Trail, like life, offered us the opportunity to experience the beauty, smells, sounds, joy and peace if only we would take our eyes off the goal and turn them to what was right in front of us, in that moment. The funny thing is, those are the real goals that most of us express anyway, we just have to slow down and experience them.

MORE LESSONS FROM THE TRAIL

"...recommended for experienced backpackers only.*"

When we hiked the West Coast Trail a few years ago, this quote was on the front page of the map sent to us by Parks Canada. Fortunately, I didn't notice it until I was home safe and sound from the adventure of a lifetime. Many things come with warning labels such as, toys, clothes, televisions, toasters, paint, sporting goods, theatre tickets, food, prescription drugs, cigarettes and booze but the important stuff doesn't have one. Things like love, children, rainbows, bird calls, flower fragrance, smiles and night skies, you know, the important stuff is all available without a lawyer warning us of its dangers. One of the tricky things about warning labels is when to heed them and when to ignore them. Risk is the only thing that truly moves us forward whether on a back country trail or through life itself.
Knowing when to take the risk and step into the abyss is an inexact science but the truth can be felt through our own intuition located deep inside the dark recesses of our mind. Funny thing, but that's where spirituality, God and wisdom are located too. Some pretty interesting dance partners roaming around inside us, aren't there?

* from a thought expressed in THE WEST COAST TRAIL: One Step at a Time