Thinking is Believing

My father is chronically depressed. He lives in regret of the past and has no hope for the future. He has put off many wonderful opportunities in his lifetime because of his inability to decide what the 'right' choice would be. Here's an example of my father's way of thinking: "Should I travel to Israel with this tour group? I don't know if I will like the people. It's too expensive. I won't go. Maybe I should go. I can't afford it. I am sorry that I didn't go. It's too late to go now. I feel terrible that I didn't go." It's kind of like a hamster in a cage. His thoughts go round and round. 

As he aged, my dad became more resistant to anti-depressants. Soon, he was hospitalized and had his first round of shock treatment therapy. Yes, they still do that. And yes, this was the only treatment that got him out of his depressed state. 

He is in the hospital again for another course of shock treatments. I am his primary health care advocate, the one who knows his medical history, talks to his  doctors, and makes sure that he gets the best treatment. At 87, his life feels hopeless. He doesn't want to go through the treatments, can't imagine that he will feel better if he has them. He doesn't want to stay in the hospital. He doesn't want to leave the hospital and pay for the nurses he needs to help him get dressed and push his wheelchair. 

As a life coach, I know that we are the product of our thoughts. We can make up bad thoughts as easily as we can make up good ones. So why choose to make up something bad? I wrote down a positive affirmation for my father to repeat during the day. It says, "I will go through with the shock treatments to treat my depression. This will help me to feel better so that I can leave the hospital and return home to live a life of joy."

My father is my daily reminder to be positive so that I will manifest joy in my life. I choose to see the light in the darkness. I choose to take positive actions that will lead to positive change. Remember that you have the blessing of choice. Choose to live a life of few or no regrets.