Welcome back to the second part. As I briefly explained, I do believe that the second and the most important component which influences whether you get depressed or not is whether you are optimist or pessimist. As mentioned before, one of the change which might appear as a symptom of the depression is a change of thoughts. Thoughts become negative and destructive. But what if the way you think is not a possible symptom of depression but its cause? What if being pessimistic s not a possible sign that you are depressed but a factor which will lead you to depression?
We are what we think. The power of our minds is pretty much unbelievable and it is scientifically proven that the way we think not only influence our mental but as well physical health, that what placebo effect is based on, isn’t it? A believe, that you will be ok, that means a positive thinking which is the same as optimism. Being pessimistic relates to the fact that you always imagine the worst scenario. Pessimist would say now, that you never get disappointed, because you always expect the worst, therefore, you don’t get depressed. It’s wrong. Than you are pessimist you live in constant disappointment. You live with the negative thoughts and feelings which might cause you much more damage than a disappointment then you are optimistic. Disappointment? So what? The future will bring something better! That what optimist would say.
Negative thinking, pessimism, is nothing else than a habit. Same as optimism is. People get used to think negatively and they do it unconsciously. And as Seligman wrote in one of his books: ‘Depression results from lifelong habits of conscious thought. If we change these habits of thought, we will cure depression’. So if you are a pessimist – challenge yourself. Challenge yourself to think positive, challenge your conscious and reprogram it!
And finally, a short video, which explains more why some people get depressed and the others don’t featuring Dr. Paul Koeck:
