Have you ever fought a battle with depression? I've had my battles with mental misery and it's no fun!

It's incredibly difficult trying to succeed in your business or in building relationships when depression has you cowering under its torrential rains of gloom. When you're depressed it takes much of your energy just trying to survive your inner battles with the blues. This can cause you to become absentminded - thus sabotaging your ability to succeed in your career or in a needed relationship.

That's bad news! However, I've discovered a winning strategy to overcome the dark storms of depression. This article offers 10 depression-blasters that can help blow the clouds of gloom away.

Here's my list of powerful anti-depression weapons:

1. Turn your focus from yourself to others.

If you're focused on yourself, the view is too small. It's the view that counts! Are you near-sighted? Even if you don't feel like focusing on other people's needs and how you can help them, do it anyway. You will be in for a surprise!

2. Take care of your health.

Depression can be aggravated by failure to take care of our basis health needs. Be sure to get enough sleep, exercise and eat healthy foods.

3. Simplify your life.

Trying to keep up with others' standards of living can be very depressing. Instead of trying to get more and more stuff, try simplifying your life. Henry Thoreau wisely observed: "Our life is frittered away by detail... Simplify, simplify."

4. Say "goodbye" to destructive thoughts.

It's been said that we are what we eat. It's also true that we become what we think. Thomas Jefferson advised that "nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude."

5. Learn the art of true friendship.

Thomas Jefferson also believed that "Friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life."

6. Repair Your Bridges.

Where possible make things right. Tell those you've wronged that you are sorry and ask for forgiveness.

7. Seek medical advice if needed.

Depression can be increased by conditions such as low levels of thyroxin and hormonal changes.

8. Forgive.

Don't hold grudges. Unforgiveness destroys the unforgiving person. It never helped anyone.

9. Be thankful.

If anyone had a reason not to be thankful it was Helen Keller. At nineteen months of age she lost her sight and hearing as a result of an illness. But this was her attitude toward her handicaps: "I thank God for my handicaps, for through them, I have found myself, my work and my God." In spite of her severe limitations, she become an author and traveled over the world as a spokeswoman on behalf of the disabled.

10. Use the owner's manual.

The Bible is the owner's manual for mankind. For example, in the book of Proverbs you'll find a goldmine of inspired advice on how to succeed in life and business written by one of the wisest and richest men who ever lived - King Solomon.

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Are you living under gloomy skies of mental misery? When dark clouds of depression come into your life, blow them away with these 10 powerful depression-blasters.

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