Beating Depression Phases:

It's been a little while since I have had a bad phase of constant sadness, and I am so proud to say that. I have had a couple bad days here and there. I have spent a couple hours laying around crying my eyes out without telling anyone because life at that point was so bad, but it was not the beginning of a depression phase, just a moment of weakness. Life is so hard at times, and we are so able to have our moment of weak spots in order to pick yourself back up and move on to the next task.

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I have weird music choices on my phone.. Who doesn't? But, one thing I am actually grateful for is my AUX cord piece breaking because it gave me the chance to find the Christian Radio. I listen to it everywhere I go, and I sing all the songs that play. I found new worship songs, and the talks on the radio are sometimes what I need to hear in the right moment. "Oceans" is my go-to song and there have been so many times that I was struggling & they played that song right when I needed to hear it most. It was like God's way of saying "everything will be okay. This will eventually pass & you will be alright once again, trust Me." I even have habits of leaving it on the station when my friends are in the car because it is my go-to station, and it has helped me realize so much through this life & the lifestyle I chose.

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Another important thing I learned was, we CANNOT focus on what we cannot control. We make bad decisions. We hurt people. People hurt us, but if it is not in our control after the moment has passed, let it pass. Pray. Move on. Find your piece and regain your happiness again. It's the only way to beat out the phases that will follow if you don't. If you do not focus on the things you can control, you will live your life full of regrets, pain, and sadness. Life is so hard not to only focus on what you can control.

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This one is key. We all love revenge. (Majority) believe in karma. So, this one was such an important one to come to realization with. Stop intentionally hurting the people you once loved in order to get back at them. Stop hurting random people you do not know because you envy them. STOP. Wish them happiness. Cheer them on. Wish them the absolute best life and move on. If you stay worrying about the things out of your control, you will worry about them the rest of your life. Stop wishing bad on people who do not play a role in your life. Stop wishing bad on the people who hurt you when you were most vulnerable. Stop focusing on the lies someone told you because it does nothing to the person who told them, it only destroys your mental health. It does nothing to them, and it only fills your mind with useless scenarios that you can avoid if you just pick up the pieces that shattered and move forward with your life. In the end, we only have ourselves, and the people who truly love us to help piece our lives back together when we are broken.

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We do not pick our family, so when someone seems to fail you constantly, love them endlessly, but don't feel selfish to better your health by removing them. Family is everything, so always be there to lend a hand, but do not go the extra mile when they are not worthy of it. Sometimes family goes beyond blood, and you find more family members through friendships. Look out for the people who look out for you and protect them at all costs. They will be who you have in the end, blood or not.

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I still struggle with the idea I will not find my person, but oh well. I have so many old couples tell me "you have so much time," and I have come to realization that I do have just that. Time. If I never get my own kids because I found my person too late, I always have an endless amount of siblings and an endless amount of nephews (and hopefully nieces). God had my person out there, and when I find them, I will be living my best life.

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Life sucks sometimes, but our mindsets help get us through it. Pray always. Love hard. Focus on what you can control. Worry as little as possible. Always be positive. And apologize when you need to. Sometimes the little, simple gestures are what takes your mental health the furthest. You have to worry about yourself and what you can control, and only that. Life sucks. Mental health problems suck. But, how we control our situations and the life given to us doesn't have to. Find your people & stick with them. My tattoo teaches me daily that happiness is within us, and we get to control how we feel about a situation.