What is the value of hope?

Hope Theory was developed by Charles Snyder in 1991. He said that hope consists of agency (the will) and pathways (the way) to stay motivated.

Having goals is not enough. Hope provides the attitude to make things happen. In hopelessness, people give up.

People without hope can act helpless and feel a lack of control over their lives.

What is the Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) for Depression?

Studies are showing the healthy lifestyles can be just as effective as pharmaceuticals for the treatment of depression. The following six have been identified as being particularly useful for healing from depression. Depression is an illness of decreased motivation; so the challenge is how to sustain these lifestyle changes until depression is erased or reduced.

1) Social connection.
2) Enhanced sleep.
3) Sunlight exposure.
4) Physical exercise.
5) Engaging activity.
6) Omega-3 fatty acids.

What is my motivational style?

The work of Tamara Lowe states that our brains are hard-wired for motivational styles. Her work is based on 8 years of research on over 10,000 people.

I've included her test for you to try. Self-awareness is the corner stone for making change. The better one understand oneself the easier it is to achieve.

Here's her test for you to try.

What's the difference between being trapped and being stuck?

A most respectable psychologist, Ben Michaelis, recently pondered on the difference between being trapped and being stuck. He wrote that being trapped, is when struggling to get free, sinks you deeper into trouble...like ignoring debt generates even more debt via fines, interest, and penalties.

Being stuck, though, even though it may feel as if trapped, still allows one to get free with enough patience and effort.  

Dr Michaelis's three tips to avoid falling the trap of feeling trapped is to:

1) Reframe the situation. Say, "I am not trapped, just stuck".  say it over and over again.
2) Take one action. Do one small thing to begin getting unstuck. One small step is a reminder that change is within reach.
3) Commit to doing one thing the next day. Write it on a piece of paper and  put it somewhere prominent so you will sure to see it.   

Repeat numbers 2 and 3 each day until momentum is yours and the feeling of being trapped has faded.