When we learn of someone we know going through a tragedy, we often feel sorry for that person. If that person experiences great sadness and becomes despondent and depressed we often don’t know what to do. Sometimes the logical course of action, is simply to wait. After all, most people come through ok.

What are two types of depression? One is a circumstantial depression. The second is a clinical or long term depression.

A circumstantial depression is simply a depression that is attached to a situation or circumstance. It could be a result of a separation, loss of a loved one, economic hardship, adverse physical health of some other circumstance. The person experiencing this type of depression needs to pass through the situation. Just like any change in circumstance, there will be a period of adjustment. There may be a period of feeling out of control. A period of feeling empty, lost, lonely, hurt or rejected.

The good thing about most circumstantial depression is that it passes. When the circumstance surrounding the depression no longer exists, or sufficient time has passed, or a new opportunity presents itself, the depression or the reason for the depression is no longer relevant. Therefore the depression departs.

With a clinical depression, the circumstance could change yet the depression remains. This type of depression is deeply entrenched and may take greater levels of intervention.

Now, how do others react when they see someone going into depression?

Often they express sorrow. Often they express a desire to be supportive. Often they will express a hope that this person will get back on their feet. Our desire is generally to want to help, and to lift that person and to remain a positive influence.

Depression is not the only state in which others will express concern. Depression is labelled as a mental illness. Mental illness is a darkness in the mind that can rob a person of natural emotion and feelings. The person experiencing depression will feel a great degree of sadness and an unusual amount of negative and depressive feelings. This is true because of chemical imbalance that exists in the mind.

One question I ask is, “who creates the chemicals in my brain?” My answer is always the same. “I do”.

Depression is a state of mind and emotion.

Depression is not the only mental illness. There are a great deal of mental illnesses that have now become part of our society. In fact, I have recently learned that some look at the state of euphoria an excitement that I have created in my life as a cause for concern. There is a mental illness called bipolar disorder or mania, in which the person suffering will experience periods of excitement and euphoria, followed by periods of depression.

Firstly I would like to thank those who are genuinely concerned about my mental wellbeing. However I would love to ease your minds by suggesting that I do not believe that the black dog of depression is lurking nearby, poised and ready to attack. Depression is not something that will strike when I least expect it. Rather I believe that depression is a choice.

Now before the doctors and scientists of the world attack me mercilessly, I would like to explain that this belief is empowering and has held me in a positive mindset for 6 months straight. Regardless of the validity or scientific evidence, holding this belief that I can choose my emotions from moment to moment has empowered me in a very positive way.

I have developed daily rituals to support this belief, and constantly build on this belief and the results have been tremendous.

When another person is making massive progress in life, others may attempt to understand the accompanying excitement and motivation in terms of a mental illness. To them it may be only a matter of time before that person falls. They expect that the euphoria and excitement will one day turn into a deep depression. This expectation of eventual failure will keep themselves from making progress. This attitude in itself is both disempowering and debilitating.

Some people believe that emotions are things that happen to us. They believe that emotions are created by some external factor, and that emotions just show up without warning. To some emotions are like gravity, and whatever goes up must come down. As a result of these types of beliefs some people purposefully put a cap on their own feelings of excitement and euphoria, fearing that if they experience too much joy and excitement this elevated emotional state will somehow cause them to come crashing down into a gloomy and low state at any moment. This depressive or dark feeling may unexpectedly strike then down at some point in the future. This belief is communicated with the presupposition that a person who is feeling euphoric and excited will at some point fall into a deep dark depression.

Steven Covey the leadership experts stated, “we see the world, not the way the world is. We see the world the way that we are”.

What is not understood is that this false belief that we are the “victims” of our emotions is the very essence of what I am striving to accomplish with AccessworldSeminars, that emphasises emotional mastery.

Each day And every moment we can choose our emotions. With this belief system there is no black dog lurking nearby, and there is no fear that one day I will wake up depressed. There is no expectation of overwhelming negativity that will come and strike me down. Does this mean that I don’t feel hurt, sorrow, frustration, anger or pain. No it doesn’t mean that. What it means is that I can quickly get out of those negative States, by resolving issues in my life, learning what I need to learn and choosing something different.

Belief is critical here, and when we back up our belief with action we get power and momentum.

I believed that I could be excited every single day. For 180 days I succeeded and found something to be excited about. Feelings of excitement exploded inside my mind and body and continue to do so.

I can affirm that this excitement is no longer by chance. It began as a thought. The thought was can I get excited every day? The thought led to an action. I would jump up and down each morning and yell out excitedly like I am cheering at my favourite sports team. Having practiced this action every day it has now turned to a habit. It is a daily habit for my to get excited. This habit will turn into character, and as I continue to practice this behaviour will become an eternal destiny.

Sew a thought, reap an action.

Sew an action, reap a habit.

Sew a habit, reap a character.

Sew a character, reap an eternal destiny.

This habit of creating excitement is now part of my life, and I have found that the flow on effect has indeed created a life filled with positive emotions. Furthermore I discovered that selfish and sinful practises are closely tied to unfulfilled emotions needs. When we take charge of our emotions, we take charge of life.

My message to all is please be open to the possibility of having a fantastic life. Joy and happiness is the purpose of life. Others may attempt to pull you down, warn you to slow down, or even challenge your core beliefs. The pessimist and the realist often work for the same team.

Final thought. The quality of your life is in direct proportion to the quality of emotions you experience every day