iKiInsight

Today's blog is largely taken from my good friend Patrick Moore's book "Touch the Sky" which we'll soon have available as an ebook. If you want to know more about Patrick check out his website One Billion Punches

There's an old saying; "If you want something done properly, do it yourself" There's no doubt that in some cases this is true. However, someone else said; "I have so much to do, that I'm going to bed" Sometimes, life can be so overwhelming we just want to stop.

Doing things yourself is often the best strategy, but getting some help is not a sign of weakness. If you can't get everything done it may simply mean you've got too much to do, or that you are trying to do things you just don't have the skills or aptitude for.

So delegate. Sometimes it's poor management to do everything ourselves. Sometimes it's much more efficient to focus on the things we do well and get help with the stuff we dislike, or aren't so good at. Smart companies get extra staff when there's too much work to do or when they need specialist services. So should we.

There are times it can be a good idea to get someone else do a task for us because it is empowering for them. Remember the old adage, "Give as person a fish and they eat for a day, teach them to fish and they eat for life".

There are other times people really want to help, for any number of reasons.  If they offer, let them do it. If they don't offer, ask them. Or hire someone. An occasional baby-sitter, cleaner,  gardener or ironing helper can be a gift from heaven.

Don't forget to get your free download Every Single Day

 

Go on. Delegate today.

Firstly, my apologies for the two week break since the last blog,  and secondly thanks to those people who responded to the suggestion we find a way to encourage more people to talk publicly about how they manage and overcome depression. I've posted several of these and will discuss it further soon.

Today's blog addresses the issue obliquely;

It seems to be a part of human nature to continually strive to improve ourselves one way or another. Unfortunately for our peace of mind we are designed to rarely be satisfied for very long. I'm sure most of us have experienced the old pattern; the new couch soon needs a new coffee table, which needs a newly decorated room...soon we're talking a whole new house...

So much so, that the whole focus of sections of our communities and government is to foster continuous growth. Without it we face recession or depression with the resultant job loss and pain.... 

Fortunately, as we know, there are other ways to satisfy our yearning for improvement that don't require continuous "consumption" of services and products ---art, sport, education,music, hobbies and all sorts of personal growth strategies.

Just to throw something a little different into the mix, I'm launching a little project right here, right now. It's totally free and goes like this. Each week I'll send a Power Word, a short explanation of how to use it and encourage you to do something about it that day. It really works for me, (when I do it) and can be fun for all the family. Seriously. And it costs nothing but a little thought.

This weeks' word is "Communicate". I've always believed that half of the worlds' problems would just go away if we made more effort to talk calmly, clearly and thoughtfully. Today, communicate clearly to someone. Tell them something that's been on your mind or that will help them in some way. Before you do, be sure to think clearly  about the outcome. If the result will be good, do it.

Did I mention it starts with a song? This song has lots of Power Words and it's free. It's called Every Single Day

I attended an excellent presentation on depression given by Lisa Champion at the Filex Fitness Convention recently. The focus was on how helpful exercise can be in the management/healing process. A theme also touched on was the benefit many sufferers report from hearing other people talk about their experiences in dealing with the condition. There is no doubt that this can help them feel less alone and to see that there actually is hope.

However, we all know that depression is still commonly a taboo topic that many people are reluctant to admit to, or discuss, particularly in public.

Even though 20% of the population are afflicted at some time in their lives and that it is spread among all levels of society, the term “mental illness” is shameful.

While there is no doubt progress is being made – (those over 65 barely can talk about it at all) I would like to suggest we can learn something for the example of gays “coming out.”  Although there is still debate over elements of gay rights there is no debate that the example of prominent and respected people ‘coming out of the closet’ has helped alleviate the fear, isolation and shame experienced by many gay people.

Is it time we invented a tag, a euphemism, for “coming out” about having personally experienced depression? We know that many suffering in isolation will benefit and I think the person “walking the dog’ will benefit as well.

Maybe that term can work? Walking the black dog in public can have many benefits. Both sufferer and dog get some healthy exercise, the dog is exposed as being not as mean and ugly as thought and others will be encouraged to walk their dog as well, with better health all around.

 

 

Two Dingos
One evening an aboriginal elder told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said, "My son, the battle is between two dingos that live inside us all.
"One is Evil - it is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.
"The other is Good - it is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which one wins?"
The grandfather replied simply, "the one you feed."
Sing your own Song, and take responsibility for your own happiness.  The two dingos do live in all of us, and we all face the ongoing struggle everyday of which dingo we will feed.  It is sometimes easier to feed the evil dingo by our thoughtless actions and unrealistic desires.  Food for the Good Dingo can be more obscure, so there are times when this dingo gets a little hungry.  
We need to peel back the veil that prohibits us from seeing beyond our self and look further than the neighbor's new car. Yes, food for Good is stopping to help an elderly woman cross the street, listening to your child, cleaning the house, preparing a meal with your loved ones, feeling the rain on your face after years of drought, the sun rising in the morning.  Good is not just doing what is moral, it is as the cliche states; "stopping and smelling the roses."   Take a deep breath, appreciate the small things, and remember that happiness is found within you, not outside you.
Here's some food for Good.  Smile.  Smile today, because it is a gift worth giving, and a gift that keeps on giving back.