When you’re depressed you tend to have more negative thoughts than positive. You find it more difficult to think about things that are good for you. It’s important to learn how to control your feelings. If you keep thinking about bad things other related thoughts will emerge. Changing how you see things will be difficult if it’s a habit but it will make a difference in the future by helping you feel better.
Start thinking about what makes you happy and what you are happy about currently in your life. People may look at you and think you have so much to be thankful for, but depression can make these things harder to recognize. You may not feel like it’s a big deal to be happy about something, but to someone else it can be significant. Think about things going well in your life. You’ll likely come across things not going the way you want them to. Notice the mood shift; one minute you feel okay but the next you’re not happy. It is then where shifting your focus changes.
Changing your focus helps you remain optimistic. You don’t need something to happen in order to change your focus. The right focus encourages positive thinking. Ask yourself questions about how you feel when in certain situations and be honest. You may feel like “Why me?” Instead ask “What can I do to make things better for me?”
You will find a solution to the situation much faster if your focus shifts toward being productive and positive. There is so much negativity in society it can be challenging to focus on the other side. You have a choice and it’s important to keep exercising it. Start the day by being thankful for something you have. When you wake up in the morning ask yourself what do I have to be thankful for? Focus on what you can control and what you can change. With patience, practice, and persistence you can change your thoughts on day at a time.