Book Review: "Sunbathing in the rain" - by Gwyneth Lewis
What an interesting read about depression. Gwyneth takes her reader through the journey of her own life, surviving with depression. Herewith follow some things noteworthy that I'd like to share with you.
It is a story about depression and how to accept the lows we go through, and stop trying to reject it. "Accept your feelings and your mood will change. Start observing your day rather than feeling responsible for it."
'It is good to do nothing, and then to rest'. - Spanish Proverb. Sometimes just accepting the lows and going through it, understanding that the highs will return, is all you need to do. Our need to fix things sometimes overwhelm us, and our depression is a way to show us that we do not need to control everything in our life. Sometimes we need to let go.
"Depressives shouldn't be held accountable for the way they feel, but they should for the way they behave".
At a time when Gwyneth was dealing with her depression, she was always aware that her mood did not just affect her, it affected her loved ones around her. So, even though it is easy to concentrate only on your own suffering, sometimes what is getting you in it in the first place is too much focus on yourself and too little on others. Like her husband said to her:
"There are two people in this relationship and you're not both of them".
"To pretend to know the meaning of everything is to lead a narrow, fundamentalist life. How much better to watch things as they appear, rather than as we might wish to codify them."
"Chart your mood every day. Keep a diary and rate your mood every morning. Select from the following: Totally debilitated, Down, Low, Distant, Normal, Participative, Bright, Happy, Enthusiastic."
This will give you an indication of your natural mood flow. We are constantly drifting between these states.
Gwyneth found Zen to be very helpful, and here follow some wisdom she noted:
'If you admire something for long enough, you incorporate that virtue into yourself.'
'You can only see people accurately when you renounce the vested interest your ego might have in them, and see them for themselves.
Being unselfish gives you the most reliable picture of reality. This has nothing to do with morals but everything to do with conforming to the truth of how energy and our conscience work together.
When your gain isn't the primary reason for doing something, your ego is less likely to mess it up. (egotism)
Suggested reading "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance"
Happy reading
