Blog - Page 26 of 45

(56) Get more stuff – Beat Loneliness | 57 Ways

FIFTY-SIX (57 Ways to beat Loneliness & Depression)

Get more stuff

We all know that getting more stuff makes us happier right. Stuff can make us look hotter, live longer, be more attractive, more popular, more admired… more…more…more…

Dave Ramsey has a quote that is one of my favorites:

We spend a lot of time trying to get more and more things not realizing that those things can never fulfill us. Learn from those who have gone before you – stuff can never satisfy your desires, so focus on the ONE who can.

Remember life is meant to be lived. Daily.

(55) The Feminist Lie – Beat Loneliness | 57 Ways

FIFTY-FIVE (57 Ways to Beat Loneliness & Depression)

The Feminist Lie

When I was in undergrad I took a class on Women’s studies. I learned that men were the source of all my problems. I learned that men created painful stilletos and then told me I had to wear them to get their attention. I learned that men took all the high-paying jobs and then left me to suffer with the low-wage-demoralizing jobs.

Then I went home and watched TV shows that showed me that not only were men nasty bullies but they were also so stupid that they needed their witty and vivacious wives (or mothers) to save their butts before the end of each episode.

Then I would listen to the songs on the radio that told me how I needed to be an independent woman who could take care of herself and had absolutely no need for a man, and therefore would be foolish to desire a man. Because after all, every single man out there was a two-timing-no-good-pervert who was just waiting to be caught.

Then I would watch movies about how wise and mature women were more open with their sexuality and would sleep with whomever (or whatever) they were attracted to whenever they were attracted to them. And how those who were sexual prudes were just immature ignorant little girls who needed to be laughed at and mocked.

So being the not-easily-influenced adult that I was, I gladly accepted the feminist lie.

The truth is women need men, we are neither superior nor inferior to men. We are better at some things and worse at somethings. Mature people take the hard road and choose to delay quick gratification for true love.

Don’t believe the feminist lie, read the Bible and learn about true womanhood.

Remember life is only lived once.

(54) Don't you miss me :-( Beat Loneliness | 57 Ways

FIFTY-FOUR (57 Ways to Beat Loneliness & Depression)

Don’t you miss me 🙁

When I was growing up, I had family members that were travel agents for all expense paid guilt trips. Whenever you talked to them they would remind you how you never talked to them anymore and how they were disappointed to realize that you would treat them like that. It was pretty depressing to listen to them. It almost made me forget that communication was two-ways.

Every now and then I get a phone call or a text message that talks about how bad it is that I don’t miss somebody or call them or something of that nature. My response usually is “I’m fine. How are you?”

When a person tries to make you feel guilty for not communicating with them that is an unhealthy relationship. When a person gets upset that you don’t feel guilty like they would want you to, that is an immature person. Being around people like that will wear you out and make you feel awful. Stay away from them.

Remember life is meant to be.

(53) Remember God does not ordain loneliness – Beat Loneliness | 57 Ways

Fifty-Three (57 Ways to Beat Loneliness & Depression)

Remember God does not ordain loneliness

There are so many scriptures in the Bible where God calls us to separate ourselves for Him. To take some time out just spending time with Him. He wants us to be alone with Him, so we can quietly learn what He wants to teach us. I remember when I first started learning about the love and grace of God. I couldn’t sleep during the night, I spent so many hours reading the Bible and listening to Andrew Wommack’s CD’s about the goodness of God. It had started out being one of the hardest years of my life (break ups & major life decisions), but it ended up being a year of tremendous growth.

The dictionary defines the difference between lonely and being alone.

Lonely: affected with, characterized by, or causing a depressingfeeling of being alone; lonesome.

Alone: separate, apart, or isolated from others.

It’s hard to fight the depression if you think God is the one oppressing you with loneliness.

Yes God wants us to take time out to separate from others and spend time with Him, but He never wants us feeling depressed about being alone in His presence — Don’t be fooled by the devil. Fight him! Resist Him!

Let the peace of God envelope you! Selah!

(52) You'll always need (true) Godly Influence – Beat Loneliness | 57 Ways

Fifty-two (57 Ways to Beat Loneliness & Depression)

You’ll always need (true ) Godly influence

It was such a strange day!

A few weeks ago I was getting my hair styled at the hair salon. I had a new hairstylist she was really sweet and nice and I was glad she was working on my hair. Many hours later she told me a little bit about her life, the guys she met at church and dated one who said he had 2 kids but actually had 4 or the other who was a youth leader with a purity ring who not only had a pregnancy scare with her but later went on to have a baby with another. And on and on she went….

Later that night I went to a game night at a co-worker’s house. The event started up innocently enough until people (might I add that they were “church-going” people) started gossiping about other co-workers and the sexual innuendos changed to actual sexual talk as the shots continued to flow. While I sat there getting upset with myself for even coming because I knew that one stupid song would be stuck in my head for days, and there were so many important things I could have been doing at that time that I wasn’t…

So I got home that night determined to write in my journal to reminisce a little bit about my college friends and how we would spend hours talking about God, and having innocent game nights, and to remind myself never to put myself in that situation again. I opened the first page of my journal and read some words of advice a good friend of mine (let’s call her “A”) had written in the journal over a year before when she gave it to me.

What can I say A seems to always be there saying the right things at the right time, and I thank God for her.

Yeah Life’s not easy. But it’s sooooo worth it!

(Whoa!! The last 7 posts in the series! So what have you liked or disliked?)

(51) Make people feel needed – Beat Loneliness | 57 Ways

Fifty-One (57 Ways to Beat Loneliness & Depression)

Make people feel needed

High school was one of the “funnest” yet most challenging times of my life. There was a lot of backbiting, fighting, hating and betrayal, which sometimes threatened to overtake all the good times. So as a coping mechanism I learned to treat people as if they were dispensable. I would act as if I didn’t need them, and when they hurt me or left my life I would say “well good riddance! I don’t need them anyway.” The problem with this attitude is that it was a self-fulfilling lifestyle. By acting like I did not need people they decided that it was in their best interest to go where they were needed instead. Although I was hurting inside, I pretended as if I didn’t care.

Growing up I learned that we all want to be needed. We all long to belong. So when we act as if we don’t need people, there is no reason for them to stay. No I’m not saying that you should go crying to everybody you meet asking them to be your source of hope, but let people know that you are truly glad you met them, and that your life is enriched with them in it. Yes we shouldn’t always make decisions based on feelings, but who likes to be around people who always ignore you?

Remember Life is meant to be shared.

(wow! the beginning of the last 7 posts in the series! what a journey)

57 Ways to Beat Loneliness and Depression 41-50

Hey everyone, I hope you are enjoying this series on beating loneliness – I enjoyed researching and blogging about it.

For those who may have missed a day, I have everything organized here for you.

Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about the series!

I enjoy hearing from you all.

Thank you for sharing this time with me.

(50) Freely make mistakes – Beat Loneliness | 57 Ways

Fifty (57 Ways to Beat Loneliness & Depression)

Freely make mistakes

I used to hate driving to places I have never been before. Even when Mr. Tom-Tom is directing me and telling me how to get where I wanted to go safely, I would still get so tense and worry about missing my way or my car getting stuck somewhere without a way of escape.

Until one day I was going somewhere and the worst thing happened! I got lost. I made the wrong turn, and ignored Mr. Tom-Tom multiple times and did not get back to my house until I was tired and I had wasted $13 in gas and 45 minutes of my time. But you know what happened, I realized that it didn’t kill me! This whole time I was worried about getting lost, but the experience of getting lost was not as bad as I imagined it to be…and even better I learned that this particular road was not the one to take next time 🙂

So the next time you are tempted to be afraid of making a mistake. Purposely make the mistake, and you will realize there was nothing to be feared, but much to be gained

Remember life is meant to be lived boldly!

(49) Your future is so bright – Beat Loneliness | 57 Ways

Forty-Nine (57 Ways to Beat Loneliness & Depression)

Your Future is so bright

A year or so ago I found some of my old journals from high school. In my journals I talked about my crushes and how I “super-duper” crushed on this guy, but I was only “minorly crushing” on this other guy. It was so cute and so funny. One entry that really stood out to me though was the one about college. I was wailing about how life is not fair, and how I would probably not be able to go to college because my parents would not be able to afford it, and I probably would not be able to get much scholarships. My life was definitely OVER!

Looking back now many years later, I did go to college, I got some scholarships and my parents paid for the rest, and I also went to law school on a full scholarship, I want to turn back time and tell myself “girl stop worrying your future is so bright!”

One day you will be a fancy lawyer/writer/blogger/cool person so don’t worry about it.

Whenever I face challenges today I try to remember those times and how I felt like even God could not fix this situation. But of course I was wrong. So if I was wrong then, I’m sure I will be wrong again…it may seem impossible, but with God Impossible is NOTHING!

Remember your future is so bright I have to squint to look at it!

(48) You never stop thinking – Beat Loneliness | 57 Ways

Forty-Eight (57 Ways to Beat Loneliness & Depression)

You never stop thinking

The other day I was listening to a podcast about Lays potato chips. Keep in mind that I stopped snacking a few months ago when I learned how snacking messes with our digestive process. But there I was listening to this podcast at 8:24am, and what did i do? I went to the vending machine, bought a bag of Lays potato chips, and ate it all up before you could say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Don’t tell me you are not affected by what you hear. Don’t tell me you are not affected by what you think and concentrate on.

Like breathing, we often forget that we are always thinking. When we are happy we are thinking happy thoughts, when we are sad, we are thinking sad thoughts. So when you feel yourself getting sad, make a conscious effort to think about happier thoughts from the past, or anticipate happy events in the future.

Remember to live your life passionately!