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Most of us experience bouts of depression from time to time; some struggle much more than others. Depression can be a very formidable enemy, waging war against the very life of our soul. I am not a professing therapist, nor am I a trained psychiatrist, but I do offer 10 suggestions, all falling under the umbrella of one common theme. You see, when you are depressed, your focus is only on you. Depression causes tunnel-vision and self-centeredness, leaving people consumed only with self.

A weapon to wage war against this self-consuming enemy, is to reach outside of yourself and do something for someone else. This will help you overcome that tunnel-vision by taking your mind off of yourself, and in turn, give you an uplifting feeling of self-worth. It really is better to give than receive. So, the next time those blues come knocking on your door, tell them there is someone else out there who is worse off than you, and then go out and try one of these random acts of kindness:

1. Send a bouquet of flowers to someone at a nearby nursing home. Better yet, deliver them yourself and visit with someone who has no family nearby.

2. The next time you are at a restaurant, look for an elderly couple, or a struggling single mom, and tell the waitress that you are buying their meal.

3. Pick up some flowers at the grocery store and on the way out, hand them to the cashier, thanking them for their service.

4. The next time your waitress is having a hard day, bless her with a $20 bill and tell her you can appreciate the hard work she is doing (probably just to make ends meet).

5. Spend an afternoon helping at a soup kitchen.

6. Mow the lawn of your elderly neighbor.

7. Bring toys to children at a homeless shelter or safe house.

8. Deliver soup to a sick friend or neighbor.

9. Sponsor an orphan or orphanage.

10. Volunteer as a big brother or sister to children in need.

Learn more about this author, Mark Scott Stewart.
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