Depression Cure: Focus on Repetitive, Mundane Work
Hi Friends,
This is my first post of 2015. May we all have a great, joyful year.
I have been dwelling on Depression Cure for the last few months. More specifically, through my recent posts, I have attempted to come straight to the point: what steps you can take to joyfully emerge beyond depression. I refrain from the usual terminology: beating depression, fighting depression or your victory against depression. Regular readers of this blog and those who have read my book: ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY? will understand why. Struggling is precisely what you have to give up. Do not run away from depression. Observe it, Embrace it, it will melt away. At the end of this post I will give links to some of my earlier posts on this. They will be helpful.
Now, here is one other simple way of quietly moving into the NOW and finding a joyful existence beyond depression and boredom.
Our daily lives are full of activities that are repetitive, often mundane and do not require much attention. Yet, we cannot skip them. How about quietly focussing on them? I have given some examples in my book from my lived experiences.
I was exchanging notes with my daughter about where our minds are when we drive. During my younger days, I used to drive mostly on my reflexes. I recall having driven, say, from work to home, with my mind being everywhere except on my driving! I often shudder to think that on reaching home I was able to recall nothing about my driving, neither the route nor about how I negotiated it. I only remembered my train of thoughts; and those had nothing even remotely to do with my driving!
All those who are confident about driving and do not have to think too much will understand this situation. My daughter shared exactly the same experience with me.
Forget whether you enjoy driving or not. Just try and focus on everything that you are doing while driving. I'm not suggesting that you get tense. If you are a relaxed driver, you cannot force yourself to get stressed.
Just passively notice all that you are doing. How you navigate, respond to the traffic on the road, how you slow down, wait at signals, how you turn, accelerate... and so on. All this you can do on reflex. But I am suggesting that do not drive on reflex. Just observe each action of yours. Turn off the radio. Your mind will want to wander away. Gently bring it back to your driving. Feel the steering wheel that you are holding. In short, it is as if you are closely observing someone else drive!
Just passively notice all that you are doing. How you navigate, respond to the traffic on the road, how you slow down, wait at signals, how you turn, accelerate... and so on. All this you can do on reflex. But I am suggesting that do not drive on reflex. Just observe each action of yours. Turn off the radio. Your mind will want to wander away. Gently bring it back to your driving. Feel the steering wheel that you are holding. In short, it is as if you are closely observing someone else drive!
If you can manage to do this every day, by the time you get off the car, you will notice a new kind of peace descend on you. As you make this a habit, you may notice more peace, a general cheerfulness and a sense of joy within.
One by-product of this practice is that your driving will be safer! Next, you can find so many repetitive, mundane things that we have to do every day. Every time you get busy in any such activity, just remember: do not let your mind wander; and observe yourself closely.
Some people enhance their driving pleasure by listening to loud music, or by getting thrilling kicks. I am not suggesting any of those measures. For, my focus is not to make your driving pleasurable but to help you to move closer to yourself. Do notice that I have suggested you turn off the car radio. Driving is just one example. It could be routine office work or any daily chore at home.
Some people enhance their driving pleasure by listening to loud music, or by getting thrilling kicks. I am not suggesting any of those measures. For, my focus is not to make your driving pleasurable but to help you to move closer to yourself. Do notice that I have suggested you turn off the car radio. Driving is just one example. It could be routine office work or any daily chore at home.
It is like doing whatever you are doing, with your entire being. It's like driving with your being. Our daily lives offer us many such opportunities. If you can master this practice, you will have found an excellent way of moving into the present moment. That is where you find JOY!
You will find this helpful even you are not 'depressed'.
Here are links to some prior posts that are always worth a revisit (please click on the links below to read):
Depression: Threshold to a New Kind of Joy
How to Celebrate Uncaused Depression?
The Only Permanent Cure from Depression
Psychological Depression Vs Uncaused Depression
Here are links to some prior posts that are always worth a revisit (please click on the links below to read):
Depression: Threshold to a New Kind of Joy
How to Celebrate Uncaused Depression?
The Only Permanent Cure from Depression
Psychological Depression Vs Uncaused Depression
Cheers!
Deepak Chatterjee
www.facebook.com/ChatterjeeDeepak
@Deepak33C
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Very well shared. Focussing on what one is doing, will bring one to "Here & Now" and not allow the mind to move to flights of fancy, fears and anxiety. Good way to tame the unbridled mind.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ranjana. I have got an idea to further elaborate on your comment. For the next post...
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