Building confidence can support with managing depression and improving motivation. Improving confidence can be a daunting task as one may feel uncomfortable symptoms associated to the action taking place. Such as that in meeting new people or challenging insecurities.

One of my favorite terms is GRIT.

Practicing GRIT effectively means that one can be driven, determined, willing to overcome challenges and adversity. GRIT is independent of talent or IQ level and more focused on skill based development. Meaning that you can build this skill!

One can work on “dealing with depression” by:

• Understanding their personal definition of depression
• Identifying triggers that cause symptoms associated to depression. The symptoms may include: problems focusing, feeling irritable, difficulty making decision, feeling overly tired, sadness and/or crying.
• Identifying the physiological and psychological changes that take place when triggered
• Creating coping skills
• Understanding the impact of practicing the coping skills
• Depression can come back. Anxiety can come back. It’s fair to say that a person can suffer from a skin rash more than once in their life. One may understand depression by focusing on the catalyst. The triggers that wake-up depression (i.e. make depression come back).

Triggers can vary from a rainy day to an impactful event such as a loss in the family or moving to a new location. Creating awareness of the return of “depression”, is just the start. Next, is to put on your gloves and start challenging the symptoms of depression.

Create a giant bucket list of tools aimed to overcome depression symptoms.

Coping skills include:

• deep breathing
• watching a funny movie
• going for a walk
•  taking a shower
• spending time with peers.

How to find motivation while taking on depression?

Finding motivation can be difficult if the task is associated to an extrinsic factor(s) versus intrinsic. I like the idea of creating systems. For instance, having a system focused on completing assignments in a manner that is.:

• Organized
• Has added value
• Has a support network system

Systems that are organized and properly structured allow a person to have the peace of mind to follow direction without feeling overwhelmed or consumed with multitasking. A simple example of this would be to organize the tasks for work projects using a calendar on your phone and utilizing the reminder setting to increase the likelihood of engaging in the task.

When a person associates positive value to a task, they are often more willing to engage in the task and effectively complete it. One can work to increase value per specific task as a goal to improve success.

I personally, love spending time writing while not so much enjoying the task of cycling. To promote value, I utilize my current and future wellness. Meaning that if I complete either tasks, I will grow healthier. This aids my principle of value. Lastly, having a support system can go a very long way. I have a peer that I go running with. It’s fair to say that without the support of my peer I may be less incline to engage in the task. Having someone to help can truly go a long way.