Pushing ourselves on

[Vgtasd]

Hi all, I've suffered with depression and a low level fearfulness for many years, feeling a bit proud of myself today, the black cloud was hanging over me but I got up, walked the dog and tidied up! I really struggle with motivation, has anyone any advice on how to keep momentum going? Xx

There's a part of your brain called the Reticular Activating System. It's a kind of filter that allows you to ignore stuff that you don't consider important and highlights the information your mind thinks you need be aware of. It's why you can hear your own name across a crowded room and why, when you decide to buy a particular make and model of car you start seeing them everywhere.

Where does this fit it with your situation? When you are down, the RAS will automatically focus on sad, depressing and negative news or events. However if you actively start looking for glimmers of positivity; just little things like birds singing, a shiny car, children laughing - whatever makes you happy - you will retrain your brain to look for more of the same. So look round at your tidy house, relive the dog walk and focus on how good they made you feel. It's only the start.

Thank you so much @Eyesopenwideawake good advice xx

I started a little notebook/journal and began to write down five positive things that happen each day, just simple pleasures, similar to the ones Eyesopenawakerope mentioned then read them back before I go to sleep and again before I start the following day . They don't seem like much to anyone else but that doesn't matter it's just for me.
So today I've got 1. Lovely dog walk in the sunshine , 2. Saw a lovely Redwing on my bird table - first time I've seen one in my garden for a couple of years,. 3 , My elderflower is bursting into life already , Spring is on it's way. 4. We final!y unblocked smelly kitchen drains hooray! 5 Delicious roast chicken dinner, cinnamon bun for afters, husband washed up . 😎
There are days when I have more than five so I add them if I've got room. It spurs me on to look for happy experiences no matter how small , so I always have at least 5 . I can't remember where I got the idea from, online somewhere at a guess I've been doing it for a few years now

These are lovely @chattyness I'm going to start doing this, need to do something to get out of this sadness and fear xxx

Hello OP,
if you think about it you will notice that motivation almost always follows action. You go for a walk to lift your spirits and then you feel better.

If I'm feeling low and don't feel at all like doing laundry for example, if I just do a little tiny bit of the job, such as sorting colors or starting up a load of washing then that feels good and gives me the motivation to do a bit more.
I believe to really feel better I have to make some kind of effort . It is not easy at all when depressed and it does not help if we expect too much of ourselves and think we always have to be able to accomplish everything we used to do. Be compassionate with yourself. Focus on and celebrate each little win. ;)