To be discouraged is to lose enthusiasm or to be depressed in some way. Everyone at some point in time and for one reason or the other will experience the emotion of discouragement.

People may discourage you from going after a goal or a dream that you had. All your enthusiasm could dissipate into smoke right before your eyes because others do not think that you should or could get what you feel was designed for you.

Friends and relatives may disappoint you or fail to support you when you needed them the most or those whom you expected to have faith in you, do not seem to believe in you.

One writer said that "people discourage you from doing things that they themselves feel they cannot do." It is therefore others living out their own limitations through you. When you accept their limited view of themselves, you become like them. No wonder people end up within a group of similar persons. Dissimilar people move out of similar groups.

Have you ever been in a love relationship that others felt you should not get into, but you knew to your heart that it can work? Years later you regretfully and longingly live in the past because it may have worked if you gave it a chance but you made your decision to leave based only on the fact that others felt it could not work. Conversely, people stay in relationships that are clear failures and would not consider leaving because others feel that they should not, particularly, when the couples are not married. I always believe that in the case of a married couple and where children are involved, other and deeper considerations must be taken into account. Some people had dreams of a career and never pursued it because for some reason they were discouraged from going after their dream world by others. They may know in their heart that they can do it but they did not have the courage to stand up to those who said they couldn't.

Have you ever tried very hard to do something or achieve some goal and some how you never got it right? Is your marriage a discouragement to you? What about the children, are they driving you up the wall, especially that particular child?

Is your job a stress to you because of the people and systems you have to work with? Are the constant arguments of your parents driving you crazy? Does the dysfunction in your family cause you to consider suicide as an option? Do you get along with your brothers and sisters? Did the break up in your seemingly beautiful relationship make you want to sink into the earth and let it swallow you up? Is there a situation that has caused you great embarrassment that you do not want to be seen in public for a very, very long time? If you have lost enthusiasm and feel dispirited on a daily, regular and protracted basis, then you need to turn things around for your own good sake and the sake of your health.

To remain depressed or discouraged for too long could lead to serious mental, social and physical problems in the long run. There are people and agencies that can help you through your turbulent times. Do not try to swim alone if you feel you are drowning in your problems. Get help while you can. Avoid a nervous breakdown or a problem with your mental health. If you cannot find help, get in touch with someone who can refer you appropriately.

Often we see people who are struggling to cope with the vicissitudes of life and we trivialize what they are going through only to hear that they have fallen over the edge. You can be of so much help if you direct them in time or get help for yourself if you feel, as my mother used to say, "Water more than flour."

Sometimes people are so discouraged and in deep depression that they feel they cannot cope. I remember receiving a call from someone a day after I had a radio program. The person sounded desperate. I chatted with the person for a while on the telephone and they made the necessary arrangements with my office for an appointment to chat further. About two days later and two days before our scheduled appointment the radio station called to say that the person committed suicide.

As a caution though, you cannot help everyone with their problems. You can be so caught up with the problems of others that you become heavily burdened and depressed off of the concerns of others. Be careful. Recognise and accept that there are problems you and I cannot address because we are not qualified to do so. It is important that we refer persons to competent help for their specific issues.

The most crucial way to address our state of discouragement is by examining our attitude towards the things in life. I learnt this powerfully from a wonderful person. I met Amanda who is paralysed from her waist down. I met Amanda in one of Les Brown's conferences. She was injured during a skiing accident. A beautiful 28 year old young woman whom every time I see her she is in very high spirits and she jokes about her own condition. She said people ask her all the time if she feels discouraged not being able to walk and enjoy all the things young people her age enjoys. She said that she has learnt that she can do all she wants in her mind as everyone else. She can dream, live out fantasies, ski and more. She said, however that what discourages her most is meeting people who can walk but are paralysed in their minds. WOW! Talk about attitude.

There is nothing in your life that you cannot put a good attitude towards. Scriptures says in everything give thanks. If a door of opportunity opens give thanks for God provided that door. If a door of opportunity closes, give thanks because it means that God has a greater door for you to enter.

Take some time off to think it through. Why stand in the quicksand of discouragement when you can soar in the clear open skies with an attitude that says "I will survive!"

Finally, remember that the God of the mountain is still God in the valley. Be blessed.

Contact me mats4sure@hotmail.com

or call 868-635-1801