Turning Downside Up

It's trite to say, but true: we all have our ups and downs.

But it's also true that some of the downs are worse than others. No matter what we do, we don't seem to be able to get up from them.

At such times, however, our solitary goal is never to give up, to believe with all our might that there is a way we cannot stay down but arise and return to that strange thing we call normality.

As strange as it may seem, a despair-relief secret that many people have discovered is not to run from the downer, but to embrace it and learn from it, which may mean we may yet sink deeper into our despair.

But despair is a teacher. We learn from our hurts, #1 perhaps, that we're not as smart as we thought we were, #2, that out abilities are definitely limited.

At such times, we may need to rely on others more than we want. Yes, we like to think of ourselves as independent and capable, seldom if ever in real need of others, which is the Big Lie we frequently tell ourselves.

Rely on me, rely on others.... on anyone that maybe can help. There's no disgrace in that. And the likelihood is that the helper will one day need you to return the favor.

Our message here: in despair don't give in to it. It too will pass.