Appreciation of Life

August 21st, 2008 -

“Let us rise up and be thankful; for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.” ~ Buddha.

How often do you complain about your life? About all the things you want and do not have? How much time do you spend feeling badly because you have not achieved all the things you wanted to achieve by this point in your life? How much time do you spend feeling like it is taking forever to get the things that you have determined to get? Probably a substantial amount. It would be well worth your while to actually sit down and calcuate what percentage of your waking hours is spent in these ‘dissatisfacted musings’.

Now, think about the opposite. How much time do you spend appreciating your life and the things and people in it? How much time do you spend being grateful for all that is wonderful in your life? Do you even know what are the wonderful things in your life? Go back to the top of this article and read Buddha’s words again. In every life, no matter how dreary it might seem, there is something to be thankful for.

Here’s a likely example: If you are reading this, then it is likely that you have access to a computer, and time to search for inspiration. You have the blessing of sight and the ability to read and understand. These are not gifts to be sniffed at or to be taken for granted. Imagine that you are involved in an accident tomorrow and are struck blind - unable to see. How much would you wish to return to this moment and be able to enjoy the pleasure and use of your vision? So don’t think that what you have is trite and not worthy of gratitude and appreciation.

We must all have goals and dreams and desires to lead us on our path forward, however that does not negate being able to appreciate all that we have right now. We must often take moments to bask in wonder of the truly great things in our lives. We must take the time to feel gratitude for the gifts that have come our way, the persons who have helped and inspired us, the serendipity that is life at its best.

Such moments of appreciation and gratitude shore us up, and give us renewed energy to keep striving towards our goals. For the life we live today is the one we worked towards yesterday. Today, we have some of the fruits of our earlier labour, some realized goals – we must take the time to appreciate them before running after another goal. Valuing your achievements gives impetus towards accomplishing more.

But that is not the only reason to bask in the good of your life – the mere basking itself has value to you. The moments you spend in basking and appreciating and being grateful are moments well-lived and incredibly satisfying.

“We all have the tendency to struggle in our bodies and in our minds. We believe that happiness is possible only in the future. The realization that we have already arrived, that we don’t have to travel any further, that we are already here, can give us peace and joy. The conditions for our happiness are already sufficient. We only need to allow ourselves to be in the present moment, and we will be able to touch them. What are we looking for to be happy? Everything is already here. We do not need to put an object in front of us to run after, believing that until we get it, we cannot be happy. That object is always in the future, and we can never catch up to it.”
~ Thich Nhat Hanh

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Overcoming Depression: Omega-3 & Fish Oil Supplementation

August 19th, 2008 -

“The most important of life’s battles is the one we fight daily in the silent chambers of the soul.” ~ David McKay.

If you are suffering from depression it is best to fight it on several fronts, including the psychological and the physical. LieslNet has already posted several articles on Overcoming Depression psychologically. Now we shall consider the possible benefits of fighting depression on the physical front.

Clinical Studies of Depression and Omega-3

Several studies have shown a relationship between fish oil (Omega-3 in particular) and depression. An increased consumption of fish has been linked to a reduced occurrence of depression. Studies examining the rates of depression and fish consumption nationally have shown astounding correlations. New Zealand, where fish consumption averages only 40 pounds per year, experiences a depression rate 60 times higher than Japan, were fish consumption averages 140+ pounds a year. Other compelling evidence includes a study of pregnant women which showed that those consuming 10 ounces of fish a day were two times less likely to suffer postpartum depression than those pregnant women who had zero fish consumption during pregnancy.

A quick search of any internet search engine will show a long list of studies whose results all suggest a close link between increased fish consumption and reduced depression rates. The active ingredient in fish oil that is thought to be efficacious in reducing depression is Omega-3, which is a polyunsaturated fatty acid. It can also be found in walnuts, flaxseed and pumpkin seeds.

Usefulness of Omega-3 supplementation

Studies have yet to suggest the perfect dosage of Omega-3 supplementation, showing only that the positive effects can be lost with over-supplementation i.e. at higher doses. However, it is reasonably safe to assume that if your diet is completely devoid of any Omega-3, some small supplementation ought to be useful in reducing depression.
This author has found supplementation with Omega-3 to be beneficial in the fight against depression. The spontaneous occurrence of negative feelings is greatly reduced and energy levels are higher. While it is far from a happy pill, it has had a significant enough effect to prompt this author to continue its use.

If you dislike taking pills, you might want to consider simply increasing your fish consumption. Eat fish more often than you do now and see if you get a positive effect. That is the simplest way to test the theories for yourself. Of course, be aware that certain types of fish farmed in certain waters are said to contain intolerably high levels of mercury so do your research and know what you are buying and eating, but definitely consider this as an option.

So if you are fighting depression, it is worthwhile to investigate the use of Omega-3 supplementation as a tool. Before taking any supplement it is wise to seek the advice of your medical care and mental health professionals, particularly if you have been diagnosed with any other medical or mental conditions for which Omega-3 might be contra-indicated. But this supplement is well worth investigating.