Aspire Magazine: Inspiration for a Woman's Soul.(TM) Dec19/Jan20 Aspire Mag FINAL | Page 66

by-step, joyful work, that you can do a little at a time, over the process of time. Each tiny success—however small or seemingly insignificant—will build the groundwork for your next achievement – and then the next, and then the ones after that. Here are three simple but powerful strategies I assign as a starting place for my own counseling clients, to help them begin their recovery: 1 Adopt a healing mindset. Stop telling yourself – or allowing others to tell you – that you are doomed for permanent misery. Your depression can be healed! – if you apply the conditions that promote healing, and stop doing things that worsen the disorder. 2 Feed your body—and your brain—wisely. Healthy new cells cannot be built from substandard, artificial materials created in a factory. Choose food and beverages that are as natural, wholesome, and unprocessed as possible – that work with your natural brain chemistry, rather than against it. 66 3 Control your media intake. The vast abundance of technology and media in our modern society can educate and inform, at a level never previously possible, in all of human history. But overuse of media can distract us from real relationships, real achievements, and interaction with the natural world our bodies and brains were designed for. Passively watching media for hours on end keeps us from the movement and activity we need daily to thrive. So limit screen-time, and use it selectively, choosing only things that build you up in a positive way. Don’t be content with just “managing” depressive symptoms. Learn how to heal – powerfully, from the inside out. Choose constructive beliefs, actions, and influences that can help you build a beautiful, happy, fulfilling life – starting today. © 2019. Carrie M. Wrigley, LCSW. Your Happiness Toolkit: 16 Strategies for Overcoming Depression, and Building a Joyful, Fulfilling Life. Reprinted with permission. Carrie M. Wrigley, LCSW - Carrie has been a counselor for over 30 years, specializing in the treatment of depression, anxiety, addiction, and relationship problems. She has been public mental health educator, singer/songwriter, speaker, and performer for over 20 years, focused on building emotional wellness. Visit carriewrigley.com for more resources and information. www.AspireMAG.net | December 2019 / January 2020