In the last post I began a conversation about dealing with ever changing emotions. If you haven’t read that post, read it now before going on. In this post, I want to finish my list of how to deal with ever changing emotions.

3 -- Make a contract with a loved one or a friend. I rely on my wife to recognize when I have fallen into a severe emotional downturn. She reminds me things will get better and I need to wait before making major decisions. And then, she just loves me!

Sometimes, it is hard to love someone when they rebuff every attempt at consolation. I know I feel guilty when I sometimes snap at my wife or loudly share the negative things going on in my life. A truly loving person will be able to look beyond that and understand what you and I are not comprehending: We are currently in a storm at the center of a swirling tornado of emotions and like ALL tornados, the storm will eventually stop. Remember this when you find yourself at the other end of that equation as the person who needs to console and love someone else experience these negative emotions. In fact, looking outside one’s needs is a powerful tool for overcoming depression.

4 – Review the past. I kept a journal every day during my first year of counseling. Every time I find myself falling into an emotional “funk” I pull out the journal and read a few days’ entries. It is amazing to realize that as bad as things are NOW, they were so much worse in the past. And, I made it through then. If I can get through a worse situation, I am reminded I can get through this current situation.

When I went through my horrible depression, I had no idea that one day my “failure” would be used by God to help others! God took my failure and turned it around to do good. In the midst of my depression I need to remember that!

5 – God will ALWAYS give you MORE than you can handle. Now, this may seem counterintuitive to every time you’ve heard just the opposite. But, hang with me. Many people ask me why God allows bad things to happen in life. Truth is, most of those “things” come about because of our decisions. The only way we can grow and mature is to overcome the adversity in our lives.