Breaking The Bonds of Depression (Part 4)

Breaking The Bonds of Depression (Part 4)

Psalm 119:116 "Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed." 

I want to mention an emerging field of psychology called Post-Traumatic Growth which has proven that we as human beings are able to use various forms of hardships (including those that lead to severe heartbreak and even mild to moderate depression) for substantial intellectual development over the long-term.  Specifically, researchers have found that hardships can help us grow our contentment, emotional strength and resourcefulness.  When our view of the world as a safe place, or as a certain type of place, has been shattered, we are forced to reboot our perspective on things.  With the right support and healing practices in place, we gradually gain the ability to see things with a fresh set of beginner’s eyes again, which can be extremely beneficial to our personal growth.

I read this quote recently in a book:

“We need to remember that all of us can heal through hardships, and many of us are even catapulted onto a more meaningful, motivated path after experiencing one.  Growth through hard times is far more common than most of us realize.  The challenge is to bring awareness to the opportunity presented by these kinds of unexpected and undesirable events.  Afterward, we need hope.  In the aftermath of intense pain, we need to know there is something better and there almost always is.  A traumatic experience is not simply a painful experience to be endured.  Instead, it can be incredibly life changing by motivating us to evolve in the best ways possible.

It isn’t an easy journey, but most of us have the mental and emotional capacity to emerge from our hardships—even severe ones—stronger, more focused, and with a better perspective on life.  In numerous psychological studies of people who have suffered traumatic hardships, about 50 percent of them report positive changes in their lives as a result of their negative experiences.  Some changes are small (more appreciation for the average day, for example), while others are so seismic that they propel them onto totally new and rewarding life paths.  The bottom line is that the most painful things that could possibly happen to us can be pivotal circumstances of great opportunity.  Hardships often push us to face the reality of life’s impermanence, to appreciate our limits, and to find more meaningful understandings of who we are and how we want to spend the rest of our lives.”

Romans 15:4 "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." 

Verse 13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."