feeling down | David M Masters

Depression Is a Good Thing

Depression gets a bad rap because it can be so all-consuming and overpowering. If you give in to it and let depression take you over, it could destroy you. You could lose all desire to go on and even contemplate suicide. Depression is debilitating, can be horrible and all the while, depression is a good thing.

Depression is hard to go through and in our contemporary society, we do everything we can to avoid it or stave off the effects of depression. We self-medicate or reach out for prescription medications to keep us from feeling bad and this works to some degree. It makes us numb to the effects of depression, and we feel better.

We know, that the approach of self-numbing without some attention being paid to the underlying causes of the depression is counter-productive, now that we have statistical data to look back on to evaluate the lack of success due to the “ignore it for long enough and it will go away,” approach to dealing with the feelings associated with depression.

Creating a false sense of wellness is not good medicine.

We now realize that creating a false sense of wellness and not dealing with the issues related to the causal factors of depression is not good medicine.

And while we’ve been spending all this time focusing on tweaking the brain’s chemistry to make people feel better, we’ve missed the point completely:

Depression is a Good Thing

Why do you think you get depressed?

You get depressed because something’s not right, and when something’s wrong, it needs some attention.

Depression is like the Check Engine light on your car.

Sure, you can still drive your car with the Check Engine light on, so what’s the worry? You can ignore it, even put tape over it and pretend it’s not even lighted at all.

If you ignore it, your car will fail. Left unchecked, your car could be reduced to 3,000 pounds of useless equipment on the side of the road.

Depression is God’s gift to the humanity, a sort of check engine light, alerting your consciousness in a profound way that things need to change.

Just like the check engine light, when you become aware of depression, at your earliest convenience, you would be well-advised to take your vehicle (body) into the shop to at the very least run diagnostics to see what might be amiss.

Depending on the cause of the depression (check engine light) you may not need to take immediate action. You may be able to continue to operate your vehicle unimpeded for a while, while you make plans for dealing with the underlying issues causing the fix engine light (depression) to catch your attention.

You might be able to spray something here, dab something there, or pour a little something in the gas tank, while you’re figuring out what approach you’re going to take to resolve the issue, but this is only temporary. If you do not deal with the cause of the indication of the need for repair, replacement, or radical change, you will be left with a situation which may be far worse, possibly altogether unrepairable.

Depression is a Good Thing

While it is uncomfortable and painful, depression is alerting you that something needs to be done to change your life for the better.

Don’t be shy about getting third-party assistance in seeing what’s wrong because often we are unable to see what’s going on under the hood. Check with a trusted friend or seek out a therapist, coach, counselor, or member of the clergy to reach out to for a more in-depth diagnostic.

The good news is, on the other side of the depression, if you’ve tended to the reason for the depression and made the necessary life-changes, a brighter, more meaningful life of love and happiness awaits you.

Once you’ve dealt with and resolved your depressive issues, you can start to live a better life, your best life, and make the world a better place.

So, the next time you get depressed, don’t run to the “drug store” to numb the feeling. Instead, consider drilling down into your soul to see if you can figure out what repairs, replacements, or radical changes need to be made. Massive change will make you feel much better than any form of self-medication. Plus, it will raise your vibration and change the direction if your life, creating a whole new world of possibilities.

Your new, more expanded and evolved, life is waiting for you.

Mood Enhancing Quick Fixes

As good a person you are, you’re reaching out and helping others, taking care of yourself, offering your best to your family and friends, and doing your part to make the world a better place. There’s no doubt you’re living the good life… Still, every once and a while you feel a little down, and you need a little mood enhancement.

If you’re feeling a little down, there can be a host of reasons why your mood takes a nose-dive every so often. When this happens to you there are some things you can do that can get you back on track and feeling better.

Shifting your mood can be done by making a few adaptations that do not take much time nor effort, and can have a profound and immediate effect on your outlook and make you feel even better in no time.

Mood Enhancing Quick Fixes

Some of the most rapid ways to affect your mood include getting your feet off the floor, put them up and take a fruit or veggie break. Dab a little mood-enhancing essential oil on your wrists and neckline, or refresh your favorite fragrance. Take a 5-minute funny break, read some funny comics, one-liners, or make funny faces in the mirror. Take a splash-and-dash (a quick shower) or splash cold water on your face.

If you have a little more time, you could read a few pages, possibly a chapter, of an inspirational book or magazine. Close your eyes and meditate or just listen to the sounds of nature (if you’re able to find some nature to listen to, otherwise silence is golden). Do some stretching exercises, or take a brisk walk to the mailbox or car and back, Pick a small designated area and clean or organize it. Make a green or fruit smoothie and enjoy it peacefully while you are taking a break. Think of all the things your grateful for so far today, boldly jot them down, and while you’re at it, think of people you haven’t contacted for a while; look them up on your phone and send them a text, or at least a smiley face.

With a little more time on your hands, you could get some noise-canceling headphones and listen to your favorite mix, just relax and enjoy the peace and quiet, or set the alarm and take a 20-minute power nap. Pick up the phone and talk to someone you haven’t talked to in a while, or write a letter and mail it. Take a walk down memory lane by creating a new, or going through your photo albums and re-arranging the photos.

Search for possible locations for your next vacation. Get out, take a walk, greet everyone you meet with a smile and a, “Hi,” maybe include a little shopping trip and get yourself a little something-something. Or, light a scented candle and take a half-hour soak in the tub.

You could search-out a new recipe on Google, and plan a little romantic candle-lit meal (could be for one, two, or more).

Have more, share below…

Why Would Someone Kick You When You’re Down?

Clearly, a psychopath would get a thrill from adding a little more pain to your misery when things aren’t going your way, but when you’re really down and out, why would people (some people you may have referred to as “friends” not long ago, as well as people you don’t know or don’t know well at all) take pot shots at you, when you have little or no resources for recovering from the attack or wounds therefrom?

Life can be incredibly harsh when you’re already struggling. It’s bad enough dealing with the pain of your situation, but it can feel unbearable when others seem to add to your suffering. Whether it’s people you once considered friends or strangers who act without a second thought, the feeling of being “kicked while you’re down” can leave you wondering why anyone would behave that way.

But is it intentional? Or is it a symptom of something deeper and more universal?

Why Do People Kick You When You’re Down?

First, let’s address the rare case: some people, like psychopaths or deeply broken individuals, do derive satisfaction from seeing others suffer. They may deliberately add to your misery for their own twisted thrill. But these individuals are few and far between.

More often, what feels like a personal attack is not personal at all. There are people with low self-esteem who feel better about themselves by comparing their situation to someone else’s struggles. If they see you struggling, it reassures them that they aren’t doing so badly after all.

This dynamic often plays out among so-called “friends.” These are the people who cheer you on when you’re down, claiming they “want the best for you.” That’s all well and good—until you start doing better than them. Then, their encouragement turns to caution, doubt, or subtle sabotage. They may warn you that you’re heading into dangerous territory, secretly hoping you’ll stumble so they can swoop in with an “I told you so.”

The reality is, most people aren’t kicking you while you’re down out of malice. Instead, they are navigating their own struggles and insecurities, often unaware of how their actions—or inactions—affect others.

The Matryoshka Doll: A Story of Invisibility

To understand how this happens, consider the story of a university professor who lost everything.

This once-respected man watched his life crumble after his youngest daughter was diagnosed with leukemia and later took her own life. His family fell apart under the weight of their grief, and he left his career to open a gift shop in her memory. But tragedy struck again when the shop burned down, leaving him destitute. Eventually, he became homeless, clutching only a treasured matryoshka doll—a gift he had given his daughter—as a reminder of her love.

One night, as he sat in an alleyway with his beloved doll, a car barreled down the street, striking a dumpster that smashed into his hiding spot. The professor survived, but the doll was destroyed. Days later, his lifeless body was found, clutching the shattered pieces.
From the professor’s perspective, it felt as though life itself was conspiring against him. Every glimmer of hope had been shattered, leaving him broken and invisible. Yet the truth was far less personal. The car in the alley wasn’t targeting him; it was driven by teenagers on a joyride, completely unaware of his presence. The professor’s tragedies weren’t orchestrated by malice—they were a cascade of unfortunate, unintentional life circumstances.

Invisibility and the Struggle to Matter

As the professor’s story illustrates, when your ability to influence others diminishes, so does your visibility in the eyes of society. People are consumed by their own lives, their own struggles, and their own quests to feel better. In today’s fast-paced world, out of sight often means out of mind.

This doesn’t mean people don’t care; it means they’re distracted. Everyone is trying to navigate their own challenges with the tools they have, often with blinders on to the struggles of others. It’s not that they’re kicking you while you’re down—they simply don’t see you at all.

Perspective Matters

The truth is, we all live life from our own perspectives. Until you read this story, a broken matryoshka doll held no significance for you. For the professor, it was everything. The teenagers who crushed it didn’t see the professor or his pain; they were focused on their own lives, trying to feel good in the moment.

Same incident. Different perspectives.

This is the nature of life. When it feels like someone is intentionally hurting you, it’s often just life unfolding around you. People rarely act with the intent to harm; they’re simply doing the best they can to navigate their own challenges, often unaware of the ripple effects.

Finding Your Way Back

When life feels overwhelming, and you feel invisible, the most important thing you can do is take steps to remind the world—and yourself—that you are still here. Don’t let yourself fade into the background. Even small, deliberate actions can reignite your significance.

You are an amazing person with a unique purpose, message, and mission. Your experiences, no matter how painful, have equipped you to help others who are struggling with similar challenges. You don’t need to have all the answers; you just need to refuse to give up. Take the next step toward rebuilding your life—no matter how small—and trust that each step will lead to a better, brighter future.

A World of Blind Spots

The professor’s family didn’t abandon him out of malice. They were overwhelmed by their own grief and chose to cope in ways that made sense to them, even if it meant distancing themselves. His daughter’s suicide wasn’t meant to hurt anyone—she simply wanted to ease what she thought was a burden on her family.

We’re all human, trying to navigate this imperfect world. Most of us have blind spots, and we unintentionally hurt others simply because we’re focused on our own pain or desires. The key to moving forward is to recognize this truth and give others—and yourself—grace.

The Path Forward: Love and Purpose

No one is intentionally out to get you. Life’s challenges can make it feel that way, but more often than not, people are simply unaware of the impact their actions have.

Instead of dwelling on the perceived slights or injustices, focus on what you can control. Look for ways to rise from your circumstances. Find your purpose, share your story, and inspire others with your resilience.

You have the power to create a new chapter—one defined not by despair, but by strength, love, and the profound realization that you matter.

This is my prayer for you:

Amen.

How to Turn Your Blues Into Blue Skies

Ever have one of those days when you’re feeling a little blue?

You know, you look around, and it appears to be a normal day. You see other people appear to be enjoying today, just like any other day, but you’re feeling a little off of your game?

Well, it happens to the best of us.

Thank God, we’ve been given all the tools necessary to get ourselves out of this slump. All we have to do is to use our head (for, “something more than a hat rack,” my grandfather used to say). You can adjust the focus of your thoughts, which have obviously veered off course. You’re probably thinking about things that are not putting you in a joyful state of mind. Chances are you’re thinking of someone less fortunate, something you might be hesitant or worried about, or any number of things that would affect your otherwise brilliant state of mind.

If you allow yourself to be distracted by negative thoughts, the frequency of your vibration begins to sink. This can dramatically affect your mood and perception of life all around you. Left unattended, your declining vibration could cause the loss of your enthusiasm, even activities which may have brought you joy to lack their sheen, and possibly lead to depression.

Staying in this trend of lowering your vibration can also affect the physical world around you, as you are at sorts with the more positive energies around you and you are attracting more negative energy flows and awkward circumstances.

It is so amazing that just by tweaking our thoughts, even the slightest bit, the whole world around us begins to change. What an incredible gift, the awesome power which has been bestowed upon us to change the world, even the whole universe, just with the energy of our thoughts.

A bit of positive physical activity can also help to get that stagnant blood moving and anything to engage your heart to take notice will help lift your mood and raise your vibration. You could try taking a brisk walk or a dip in the pool. Maybe just getting out in nature or feeling the grass beneath your feet and between your toes will do it; or you might try listening to your favorite music as you watch the sun go down. The whole idea , here, is to disconnect your thoughts from what is bringing you down and finding that peaceful place in your heart and mind to dwell in for a while.

Memories can be tricky to manage. If you think back to the bad times, your vibration can quickly sink to match where you were in that moment in your past. On the other hand, remembering an good memory can also take you back to the higher vibration you were in at this moment in your past. So, you could think about the good times with a special friend, happy times you spent with friends and family when you were younger. You could also remember those instances in the past, when you felt so blessed or your heart overflowed with gratitude.

After you’ve spent some precious moments reliving the best moments in your life, when you return to look at the day that you were having, the circumstances or challenges you were facing, it doesn’t look so bad; and now you’re on your way to getting your vibe back.

Keep a handle on how your feeling and check in with your inner self, your heart, and see where you are. Be aware and ready to recognize when you’re starting to feel your vibration slip downward. It can be such a slow and gentle decline that you might not notice it until you’re feeling bummed out. But if you’re looking for it, you can spot it early and cut it off at the path.

We all face challenges that can throw us for a loop, but it is best not to spend too much time fretting over things which are beyond your control. Just as accidents can leave a scar on your body, life can have its way with you and leave an emotional scar inside, that no one can see, but you can feel it. Just like any other wound, time does heal, though the rate of healing cannot be predicted. Surely, though, the more you focus on what is making you not feel good, the longer it will take for you to recover.

If you must be reviewing the incident or issues that are making you feel blue, try looking for the blessing, the lesson, or the hidden treasure in it. All adversity has something amazingly meaningful tucked in side, but you have to be sleuthfully adept at finding the hidden treasure. One thing’s for certain, if you seek it, you will find it. Be looking for the positive aspect and it will be revealed to you.

Often an unexpected circumstance or event can give you skills or insights that will be of great importance in an event that lies ahead of you, or maybe you’re becoming more aware of what to avoid, so that you don’t have to face another situation, like this one in the future.

When you’re feeling blue, this is not the time to take on new opportunities, sign contracts, or promise to do something that you might regret later. First get back into your groove by raising your vibration and are able to maintain it for a while, before taking on any important projects. Feeling blue can cloud your otherwise better judgment.

You might want to enlist the aid of a friend, confidant, coach or counselor to act as a sounding board. By telling your story to someone else who will not judge you for your sensitive thoughts, you can relieve some of the pressure and thereby raise your vibration. You can also achieve a higher vibration more quickly and easily by sharing your good time memories with your friend(s) or confident, because if they are enthusiastically joining in on your joy, your good vibrations will be magnified exponentially.

I know when I get down and lonely, I find that focusing on God, and all the blessings he has given me, the incredible life and love for my children and grandchildren, maybe pluck a little on my guitar and it’s not long when I can find myself with vibes fully restored on the mountain top, ready to tackle just about anything.