How do you find peace when your heart is filled with despair? Living with depression is a challenge. And when it exists long enough, we begin to question life’s purpose. Persistent depression becomes “normal”. The despair drains your heart, and you feel weary. You begin to believe depression is who you are. You ask yourself, “What is the point of living a life like this?”
From a spiritual perspective, the thought is that everyone was put on this planet for a reason. We all have our own unique purpose to live out. Depression is not a purpose; it is an unfortunate experience. The challenge becomes how to live with it in the best possible way. Consider incorporating spiritual practice into what you have learned in psychotherapy as a complement to reaching a place of peace and healing.
What is the meaning of Spirituality?
There are some elements to spirituality that are instrumental to healing. First, spirituality focuses on a sense of purpose. When there is purpose, there is meaning. When there is meaning, there is a sense of direction and guidance in one’s life. We know why we are here and what we are called to do.
As we live out our life’s calling, we feel valuable. We offer something to a larger community that is appreciated. The more appreciated we feel by others, the more connected we are to something greater. This connectedness instills a sense of worth because our existence adds significance and meaning.
Additionally, there is an invisible force referred to as God, Universe, or Higher Power. It concerns itself with a divine love for the entire world and all of humankind. It only wants the best for everyone and everything. When you consider God as ever present this helps to relieve the feeling of aloneness. This is especially helpful to healing a depressed mind. Ultimately, to begin developing a close connection to a Higher Power, it is our responsibility to take the time to make that happen by forming our own unique spiritual practice.
Beginning the practice of spirituality
Connecting to God or a Higher Power requires regular, preferably daily, practice. Here are some thoughts on how to begin forming a spiritual connection.
Find a quiet space to calm the mind. Notice the stillness around you.
Take up a meditation practice as simple as noticing your breathing or focus on sounds around you while shutting out your brain’s noisy chatter. This calms the nervous system and slows down the mind, bringing you into the present. Living in the present moment makes it possible to hear that inner voice inside. Spiritually, this could be considered a divine whisper. In moments like this, be curious and ask yourself, “Where did that inner voice come from? What inspired that message I just heard deeper inside of myself?”
Once your mind is quiet and you feel the stillness, ask yourself “What do I truly desire for my life? How would I really like to live my life day to day?” Let yourself fantasize and see where the thoughts and images take you. This shifts your attention away from the darker thoughts.
Journal those quiet thoughts that come into your mind. Let your mind be creative. Free associate! See where your creativity takes you.
Surrender to this Higher Power. Surrender by embracing your imagination and creativity while trusting that the Universe will guide you where you are meant to go. The mystery to it is that you don’t know just where it will end up. By laying down your worries, fears, doubts, etc to the Higher Power you allow its natural rhythm to take over. It is an act of trust and faith.
Express gratitude! In your present surroundings, you sincerely appreciate things such as the blooming flowers in your garden, the wonderful smell in your kitchen from breakfast, or the invigorating ideas that sprung up in your imagination while envisioning how would like to live out your heart’s desire in life.
Your mind is a gift reflected by your ability to use your imagination to create the life you want for yourself. The Universe is guiding you towards living a purposeful and meaningful existence. This drains the despair and takes your depressed mind into a state of healing.
So how are these steps helpful to finding peace and healing in depression?
Taking these steps with intention is an act of changing your mind’s focus from despair, hopelessness and loneliness to acknowledging the existence of a Higher Power that is concerned with your well-being. But you can only tune into it if your heart truly feels what we desire and if you truly feel the presence of a God that cares for you and wants you to discover and live out your life’s purpose. The trick is not to despair if you don’t feel it right away. It takes time to calm your mind while sitting quietly with yourself.
Careful! Is your depressed mind resisting?
If the depression has been around long enough, it can convince you that your identity is despair and hopelessness. The belief could be, “I am not as ‘lucky’ as everyone else. I don’t get to have a purpose nor feel joy in living out what my soul has been called to do in this lifetime. I am not worth enough to be loved and cared for by God like everyone else. I am meant to suffer.”
So….caution! If you hear yourself saying you are “unlucky or unworthy of divine love” then darkness has taken over. Your true self rests underneath this lie. A Higher Power wants you to express and live out the authentic parts of yourself. Your depressive episode does not define who you are!
How to bring spirituality to healing when depressed
It all comes down to choice. It requires a firm decision that you no longer want to live in despair. This is not to say that depression will magically be cured. Depressive symptoms could linger just like physical pain. It will require time, patience, belief in yourself, and persistence. Even when you feel depressed, keep practicing! With intention and focus you can incorporate spirituality into your daily life to help lighten what you feel, shift perspective on what you are experiencing, and mindfully take control by refusing to believe the depression is who you are.
Are you experiencing depression? Would you like to talk further about these ideas of spirituality and how it may help you to heal depression? If so, then I invite you to schedule a session to discuss counseling for depression.