Sadness is like a dark cloud fogging over your brain with despair making you want to curl up in a ball and lie in your bed forever. If no change to the mind happened, people would stay in their dark cave forever.
Depression keeps away hope. In its darkness, light is hard to grasp. Negative thoughts stand in the way from the truth preventing the steps to a better frame of mind to be seen.
Anxiety begins with depression’s lies. Then thinking spirals into a panic not allowing for reasoning.
Who is to stop such madness but the trained mind of the person who practices climbing out of the cave knowing all too well the habitual ways of the one who prevents himself from taking the first action. Yet for that person in the cave, they sometimes have a hard time seeing the first step.
Once I sat in a dark cave. The tour guide then lit one match. It was amazing to everyone how much one little match lit up the whole cave.
If you find yourself or know someone in a dark cave of depression, focus on the first action of lighting a match. The magic is in learning how to see the light. For the quicker you can ignite a flame, the more you can see all you need to see which is the first step out of the despair.
Once you see the first step, your brain begins to see a path for hope. The momentum of taking the first step motivates you to keep climbing. If you know someone suffering from depression, or do so yourself, learn to question the current thinking. What is it that is causing the depression? What lies are being told? Are those lies really true? What can they be thankful for?
If they can name even one thing that they can be grateful for, the mind reframes. It becomes the match giving them a different perspective of their life and their abilities. It makes them see all the times where they demonstrated strength and where those lies were not true.
Help those who cannot see the light. Guide them to the first step. A glimpse of hope and optimism goes a long way. It will guide you out of a cave.
Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
Crisis text: 741741
If you live in the Dayton, Ohio area, schedule free counseling by email: counseling@southbrook.org
To share inspiring stories or be referred to a Professional Counselor email: everythingforthesoul@gmail.com
The photograph was taken in Ireland.
Melanie Simon
Become Fulfilled 
Thank you Melanie for your thoughtful guidance! Taking the first step might be the hardest, but is often the most rewarding.
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