Good afternoon, Jeff here.

Thank you for continuing to read my self help tips!

Today we will discuss a realistic path to relieving depression.

Depression is believed by the medical profession to be the most prevalent disease of our time. The fear of developing heart problems or cancer alone is enough to cause a huge amount of stress and accompanying depression. There is a tremendous malaise circulating in our world today. Both the medical profession and the media are constantly "warning" us of the dangers and probabilities of different diseases, some of which seem more than likely to shorten our life span. For instance, if there is a history of cancer in your family, you’re most likely going to get it. And of course if cancer is not a big enough threat, there is always the West Nile virus, Bird flu, AIDS and a host of other diseases to frighten us…

One thing is for sure, we will never hear the end of calamities that are likely to beset us, whether from disease or some other form of challenge that we may face. It seems inevitable that there will always be “something” that will get our blood pressure soaring.

So, what is the answer to this problem? How can we carry on with our lives without being constantly afraid of what lies around the next corner? Here are several suggestions that can help you effectively deal with life’s challenging situations:

1) Work within yourself

Always try to remember that there are many good and practical ways to relieve stress and anxiety. Exercise, good nutrition and positive thinking are great antidotes. These not only help relieve the angst; they actually give us a sense of empowerment over our lives.

2) Seek guidance through the spoken word of others

It has been said that the power of life and death are in the tongue. Words can both help us and hurt us. Negative words can evoke fear, anxiety and actually produce negative effects in a person’s life.

Whenever a word is heard - any word - the mind paints a picture of it. For instance, when someone says "black cow", you will immediately see that cow in your mind’s eye. Although words are not tangible, they have the power to bring about emotional and physical change! This is the main reason why motivational speakers have a larger audience than their author counterparts.

We all have a choice when it comes to listening and what we hear. We can choose to empower ourselves by listening to positive words and encouraging thoughts, or we can do otherwise. Think about the last time that you listened to some of your favorite music…did your feet start tapping? Did you start to hum the melody? Didn’t your mood lighten-up a bit as a result of hearing the melody and the words? Negative words almost always produce negative results, whether seen or unseen. On the other hand, positive words instill a sense of well-being. A mere smile and a quick, happy-sounding, "Have a great day!" can instantly produce good feelings and joy.

3) Develop a thankful attitude

Thankfulness is one of life’s greatest virtues. A wise man once said that if we divided a page in two and wrote all of our setbacks on one side and all our blessings on the other, we would find that the blessings far outweigh the negatives. It is easier to progress in life when you can give thanks with a grateful heart for all things. Don’t look back on past hurts, nor fret about tomorrow. Live today to the fullest…choose joy and thankfulness.

In conclusion, remember that our thoughts respond to what we feed the mind through our senses. Therefore, it naturally follows that happiness is a choice. This may be a foreign concept to many of us at first, but when applied, the results can be truly amazing! Break the habit of feeling trapped in a world of depression and negative thoughts. Decide to switch-on the power of positive thoughts today.