“As children, our imaginations are vibrant, and our hearts are open. We believe that the bad guy always loses and that the tooth fairy sneaks into our rooms at night to put money under our pillow. Everything amazes us, and we think anything is possible. We continuously experience life with a sense of newness and unbridled curiosity.” (Y. Berg)

Reading this inspirational quote by Yehuda Berg reminds us that parents have the monumental task of making sure they get the balance right of helping their children to grow into healthy, happy and loving individuals, caring for others and with a passion and desire to succeed in life. I think all new parents would benefit from reading the following words.

If A Child Lives With. . .
by Dorothy Law Nolte

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.

If a child lives with fear, he learns to be apprehensive.

If a child lives with jealousy, he learns to feel guilt.

If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to be confident.

If a child lives with praise, he learns to be appreciative.

If a child lives with acceptance, he learns to love.

If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.

If a child lives with recognition, he learns that it is good to have a goal.

If a child lives with honesty, he learns what truth is.

If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.

If a child lives with security, he learns to trust in himself and others.

If a child lives with friendliness, he learns the world is a nice place in which to live

When we are feeling in a low depressed mood it can be difficult to see life through the rose tinted glasses of our youth.

Feeling low can feed depression. Understanding how it works will help us to see that it stops us doing things we used to enjoy and look forward to. This cycle of feeling down and bored can lead to a physical feeling of tiredness and lethargy. Our energy feels sapped and everything can feel like too much of a chore. This will make us withdraw into ourselves, avoiding contact with our friends and harbouring thoughts of being a failure. Things that wouldn’t normally bother us can take on a bigger significance. It is hard to move out of this cycle.

So what CAN we do?

Connecting with and surrounding ourselves with upbeat people can inspire and provide us with the energy to achieve what we want to do.

Regular exercise can motivate us. A simple walk in the park with a friend breathing in the fresh air, swimming or taking up a sport you love can all help to lift your mood.

Cooking a special meal for friends can bring the focus away from our feelings and more on what we are doing.

These are just some of the things that you can do if you are feeling low and depressed. The list is endless, in essence move, get active and do what you used to love doing or try something new.

Confucius said “The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence”.