Mind Over Matter

Someone told me that feeling better is just a matter of mind over matter. Then, a few days later, I found the attached cartoon by Gary Larson. I had to laugh.

Mental illness is just like that post.  One simply can't pretend it isn't there and forge through the struggle unaffected. In order to come to terms with my illness I can't force myself to overcome it. I must instead come to terms with it and understand it.

Don't get me wrong, a positive mental outlook is important to hone. That is why I'm so invested in meditation. But our perceptions need to be realistic and grounded.

I can't will myself through a difficult day by grasping onto a mind over matter mentality. That would be the equivalent of trying to walk through a post!

I can however encourage myself to be positive and mindful when my days are struggles over my dark passenger. Depression is tremendously insidious that way. It digs in a stays awhile. Simply taking the mind over matter approach would neglect the root causes of why I feel so bad.

So instead of a mind over matter approach I think I'm taking a mind in the moment approach. I'm choosing to look my illness dead in the face with all of its ugliness and heartache. I do this with the hope of breaking through and being able to navigate past the post towards happier days.