Asking someone if they ever get discouraged is like asking if they get angry, happy, tired, excited, or any number of other emotions. Discouragement is just one of those things we all face at one time or another. I don’t know if those of us in the writer set have more opportunities for discouragement—or we just tend to be “feelers,” in tune to emotion so we can infuse those feelings into our characters.
So how do you deal with discouragement? I did a brief study on ways to fight discouragement, and I’ve listed below what I came up with. See if you agree with any, or if you can add any of your own.
*Identify the source. Why are you feeling discouraged right now? Sometimes understanding the source is enough to get back on the right track.
*Pray. Just tell God how you’re feeling. There are plenty of people in the Bible who faced discouragement. Think how Jesus Himself felt when those He came to save let Him die such a gruesome death. If you can’t put your feelings into words, pray from the Bible. Look through the Psalms and pray words from there.
*After you’ve identified the source of your discouragement, is there anything you can do about it? Being proactive in fighting discouragement is a huge step toward conquering this feeling. A feeling of helplessness might be part of the problem, but there are fewer instances than we think when we’re really helpless. Slow progress toward a solution is better than it might seem in the moment, but realizing progress is being made can help fight discouragement. Just don’t make any important decisions while overwhelmed with discouragement.
*Remember the song that Bing Crosby sang in the movie “White Christmas” – well, besides the title song? It was called “Count Your Blessings,” or something like that. The lyrics remind us at the end of the day to count our blessings instead of sheep. I think reminding ourselves of all the ways God has shown His love for us would go a long way in blocking discouragement.
*Talk to a friend, someone you trust to be wise . . . and discreet.
Do something you love:
*Watch a funny movie
*Read a good book
*Listen to uplifting music
*Hug your pet (unless it’s a fish)
*Take a walk. Better yet, listen to praise music while you walk, and pray the words of the songs. And if you pass any dogs on your walk, make their tail wag. Who doesn’t want to smile when a dog is wagging their tail at you? Or else make the owner smile, whichever comes more easily (probably the wagging tail). Sometimes when we make somebody else smile, it bounces back and a smile hits our own face, too.
*Eat right. I know, I know, everybody says when you eat chocolate it releases some kind of chemical in the brain allowing you to feel better, but that’s too fleeting. Eating food that makes us feel better for the long run is food that fuels our bodies in the best ways. Yep, that’s fruits, vegetables, not so much junk.
*And finally, some people say cleaning something makes them feel better: a bathroom, the kitchen, a closet, the basement . . . While I have yet to derive any particular pleasure from such things (although I must admit to enjoying the sense of accomplishment that comes after such activities) this sounds like it’s worth a shot.
I think even if we do one or two of the things on this list when we feel discouraged, we’re bound to feel at least a little better afterward. But if you can’t do any, just do one thing:
*Read the book of Philippians in the Bible. It’s a great source of encouragement!
So, until next time, I’ll be counting my blessings instead of sheep…
Join Me!