I was walking to the gym on Sunday last week when I noticed that the roads around my place in Sydney was closed. I saw runners. And more interestingly, I saw people cheering the runners on. Apparently it was the Sydney Marathon.
My stretch of the marathon route was a sleepy stretch. It wasn't busy and it wasn't heavily spectated. The expected barricades were up on the road, as well as the necessary police presence, but that was mostly it. What I thought really interesting, however were the few smatterings of people cheering the runners along. They were indiscriminate in their cheering - whoever ran past got adulation and words of encouragement.
It made me think - wouldn't it be great if we had a personal cheer-squad?
When a person suffers from depression, s/he's internal voice is loud and consistent. It frequently informs (and reminds) that person of the most negative things about her/him. That negative message is personal to that person - "you're unsuccessful", "you've amounted to nothing", "you're fat", "you're unlovable", "you never get anything right". It's not just that person's negative perception that is the problem, it's the frequency in which it is repeated in their head which gives the statement the opportunity to take root. As we all know, if something is said often enough we tend to take it as fact.
If you suspect that someone you know is labouring under these misconceived perceptions about themselves, try being their cheerleader. Take every opportunity to cheer them on. Doesn't have to be much. Just a heartfelt "Well done" or "You're doing great!". Or even a smile and a pat on the back.
Do it often enough and you never know - they may even take it as fact!
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