Dan Baker's Six Happiness Tools

I really appreciated this post. I've struggled with depression for a long time and there's nothing worse than picking up a "positive thinking" book when you couldn't think a positive thought if your life depended on it. Your comments in brackets were spot on. It was great to realise that others feel the same way as I do and can recognise the limits of these types of books.

I appreciate your playing devil's advocate regarding the simplicity of Dr. Baker's list and pointing out that we are no all alike and some people need more compassion than others. I thought your comments sounded like an attack and seemed as if they were coming from a place of anger. After all, I don't think Dr. Baker was addressing those who are understandably in a depressive state, but rather those who are on the upside of depression or other life situations. In his defense, it would be impossible to deal with all the variables/challenges people face in life with one short article. I interpreted his list as a "skeleton" ...... i.e. you fill in the blanks according to where you are in your life. Maybe Dr. Baker could have prefaced his article by qualifying his statements. Would that have made you feel more comfortable?

I needed this post today to carry on. I had begun to sink in depression for the tials that were in my life, but while I was looking down I forgot to keep looking up. I have so much to be thankful for and yet the enenmy continues to want me to feel sorry for my situations and for myself. Positive thinking and positive people in you life is a plus.

"Appreciation" This is a trait not everyone has, not because they don't know how to appreciate but because there lives have been filled with so much fear and anger growing as a child so they never had anything or anyone to appreciate only fear and hate."Choice" The power of free will and human kinds greatest downfall. Yes we all have a choice but most choices are not chosen by you but by the influential people around you for its like someone whispering in your ear but in the end it is you that made the choice and has to live with it."Personal Power" All I have to say to this is God's Will let him be your rock and he will give you the strength that you desire."Leading with your Strengths" Meditate for a bit after a prayer look deep inside yourself and maybe you will actually find a strength or 2 waiting to help you get done what you want."The power of language and stories" for the lord says the tongue is mightier than the sword, and every great man had a mighty tongue to use it for good or evil is your "choice"."Multidimensional living" love all around you and search and follow your heart for your only real purpose in life is to love.

New to this site but sounds like my kind of people! Kudos to those who make it possible. I too have battled depression off & on for a long time. Tried the alcohol solution for several years. Self-Medicated as someone said. Discovered the twelve steps along with support groups & they were a life saver. But another downward spiral starting at around age 48 & it's been up & down the last twelve yrs. Especially the last 5-6 as i began to isolate myself & tried to get by mainly on medications. Thought the six tools were thought provoking & contained some well founded wisdom. Like most other "tools" they have little benefit unless we use & apply them. So thanks agin to Ms. Borchard(I felt better just looking at her picture) & to the rest of you fellow strugglers. One last quote; Sometimes it's darkess just before dawn. Fear knocked, Faith answered & know one was there. May we all find courage to take the next step. God bless, Dan in Ga