The Struggle of Depression
Let’s dive in—many of us have faced depression. Maybe it hit during puberty, just part of growing up. We feel lost, unsure of what to do or who to talk to, and sometimes it seems like we can’t talk to anyone at all. Big problems crash into us, and life tries to knock us out. We keep pushing to elevate ourselves, but something still feels wrong. The sadness can be so overwhelming that we just want to end it all. It feels like nobody understands our emotions. We crave appreciation, to be wanted, or for someone to reach out and help us.
I get it—the darkness and cloudy thoughts that come with depression and anxiety. Life can feel meaningless, but I pushed forward, determined to keep moving.
Finding My Path to Healing
I learned how to be independent and stopped caring about what everyone else thinks. I hustled at my job, saved up, and set goals. I started listing everything I wanted to achieve and began living life on my terms. I told myself, “I don’t need anybody but me!”
As I grew up, I started acting like an adult and faced my life’s problems head-on. I stopped chasing people and trying to please everybody. The key to opening new doors is building yourself up and achieving things no one else can.
I once told myself, “I need to focus on myself and stop chasing people—I don’t need them.” Once I figured out how to improve myself, I started attracting people instead of begging for their forgiveness or pleasing them just to feel happy.
Never apologize for prioritizing yourself—it’s not a sign of weakness. I know, I know, it sounds like a line from The Godfather, but you gotta admit, it’s iconic and a symbol of self-respect. Grab every opportunity to improve yourself. Don’t waste time on things that don’t matter. Use your common sense! Okay, now I sound like a Republican. Haha.
Seizing Opportunities
These are the things that lifted me out of depression. I started getting closer to God, and He showered me with opportunities. When you work on yourself and start pursuing the things you’ve always wanted in your career, God paves the way and opens doors.
A teacher of mine once said, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t force it to drink.” Your opportunities are in your hands. God will guide you, but it’s up to you to seize them.
So here’s the deal: Create your list of goals, work on improving yourself, start tackling those goals one by one, and opportunities will come. You are the star of your own story!
The Power of Purpose and Acceptance
Creating a purpose is the best way to conquer your anxiety and depression. Without a purpose, we’re not truly human. God created us in this world to have a purpose—every living thing has one. It’s in our hands whether to take action or just whine all day about not getting what we want. We’re aging day by day, and we only have 100 years or less to live. Why waste it?
One of my favorite words when I cured my depression is “ACCEPTANCE.” You heard that right. You need to remind yourself that you can’t control everything. You have to accept and let go of what you can’t control and focus on what you can—yourself. You are in your own body; control your destiny, and you will be rewarded.
According to: Nur Hani Zainal & Michelle G. Newman of The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C (Apa.org)
“Our findings suggest that people can improve their mental health by raising or maintaining high levels of tenacity, resilience and optimism,” she said. “Aspiring toward personal and career goals can make people feel like their lives have meaning. On the other hand, disengaging from striving toward those aims or having a cynical attitude can have high mental health costs.” Read more ..
Here’s the big picture of how I overcame depression, in my own words:
- Face the darkness: Depression can hit hard, often in our youth, leaving us feeling lost, alone, and craving connection or understanding.
- Keep moving forward: Even when life feels meaningless, push through the cloudy thoughts and stay determined to find your way.
- Embrace independence: Stop caring about others’ opinions, hustle at work, set goals, and live life on your own terms.
- Focus on self-improvement: Quit chasing people or pleasing everyone; build yourself up and achieve what makes you unique.
- Trust in faith and opportunities: Get closer to God, pursue your dreams, and seize the opportunities He provides—your destiny is in your hands.
- Find your purpose: Create a purpose to conquer anxiety and depression, because without it, we’re not truly living, and time’s too short to waste.
- Practice acceptance: Let go of what you can’t control, take charge of yourself, and shape your own path to find rewards.
Conclusion: Be the Star of Your Journey
Depression can feel like a heavy storm that won’t let up, but my journey showed me the power is within us to break free. By finding independence, chasing my goals, leaning on faith, embracing purpose, and accepting what I couldn’t change, I turned my life around. You don’t need anyone else to save you—take control, trust in God’s guidance, and grab the opportunities waiting for you. Life’s short, so step up, own your story, and shine bright as the star you were meant to be!
