Compassionate Love: Displaying compassion for those who struggle with mental illness  (c)2015 Nancy Virden

Dear family, friends, and all of CompassionateLove Blog’s readers,

Joy has not played a part in many past holiday seasons for me. This Christmas was no exception.

Disappointments for any of us can come from mean people as well as loving family members and well-meaning friends.  We have no control over power-hungry world citizens, and outside circumstances.  

Here is the good news.

We have options. Maybe we cannot keep toxic people from tossing bitter poisons around, but we do not have to ingest what comes our way. Perhaps it’s apparent that difficult circumstances will not change soon, however we can resist holding a victim worldview. Cruel or insensitive persons want to bring us down? We do not have to sacrifice our being for their pleasure.

Yes, we have options. After Christmas I decided I do not want to be sad anymore. Spontaneous invitations went out for a game day this afternoon at my place. In two hours my apartment will be filled with laughter. Sure beats feeling depressed.

We have opportunity to choose what we value and who we want to be. We can struggle, sometimes very hard, against pain brought into our lives at the will of others. Some of us feel we lost a long time ago.

Emotionally you may question if you have enough stamina to go on. Honestly, maybe you do not by yourself.  That’s where human support comes in. Support groups, crisis centers, therapists, medicinal therapy, good self-help books, teachers… anyone who directly understands what you are going through can help or lead you. You do not have to settle for less.

It is our decision to seek support or to believe we do not need or deserve a helping hand. To all, I wish a happy 2015. Maybe your greatest blessing will be admitting you need people.

Happy New Year!

Nancy

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NOTE: I am not a doctor or mental health professional. I speak only from personal experiences with and observations of mental illness. In no way is this website intended to substitute for professional mental health care.