Don’t Get Depressed

It’s one of the things I told myself when I first started painting.

There were a number of things: paint every day, find a place to do it, learn from the library, copy the masters, don’t make paintings—just paint, have fun, and this one: Don’t get depressed.

Why would I tell myself that? Because I know how I am. I’m quality oriented; I want to get good, and I want to get good fast. Just like you.

The thing is, growth is incremental; we hardly see it. In our mind it can seem like we’ll never get there. And that’s not an encouraging thought.

Discouragement, nurtured, leads to depression, and depression leads to quitting. Once we quit, that kills all chances of ever getting good.

So: Don’t get depressed.

Sounds simplistic, I know. And I’m not talking to those carrying the burden of chemical imbalance or demons, imaginary or real. Though, who knows? As I’ve said, we live in our minds.

I just know in my case, I can usually see when the early signs of discouragement and depression are setting in, and when I do, at least I can remind myself that I told myself, “Don’t get depressed.”

Because I have, and I have. (Gotten depressed. Reminded myself.)

Something about depression I’ve recognized is that it’s all perspective. It’s always “me” centered. There is remedy for that, if we’ll crawl out of our dark hole and see it.

Another thing: it has nothing to do with succeeding. In fact, succeeding can bring it on more. I just read of a young man, a brilliant creative writer, in his mid-20’s already at the top of his game, but dealing with long depression finally jumped to his death. I sympathize, with him, who he left behind, but I take a lesson: That’s the ultimate non-success.

Most of us won’t go that far, or suffer that deeply. But even the lesser levels, if left to fester, will cause us to quit. And that’s a suicide, a letting die of something that’s a part of you. Something that was  living, and should be growing . . . for your sake, and as contribution to the rest of us.

So, here’s my advice, given first to myself: Don’t get depressed. And when you do, remember that you told yourself not to. Even that will help you come out of it earlier.

Now, put on a smile and get back to work.