Creative Problem Solving

One of the wonderful things about Living in Truth is that we realize that there are always alternatives. A friend who is a psychologist once told me that depression occurs when a person can only see two possibilities and doesn’t like either one. That is what happens in the Pit of Illusion, but when we Live in Truth we realize that there are always many alternatives and possibilities to any problem and so instead of growing discouraged we use our creativity and think up alternatives to solve our problems.


The secret here is to not be too judgmental. Too often we start to think of something and before it is completely thought out we dismiss the idea for one reason or another. But listing whatever ideas come into our head without being critical is healthy. Start by writing down any solution that comes to mind and DON”T censor anything. Some things may seem far-fetched or even ridiculous, but it is surprising how many times the outlandish sparks an idea that is actually good or when writing it down we begin to see ways that it actually could be doable.

In addition, even though some of the ideas are not workable, just adding more things to the list instills hope that there is going to be a solution that will work if we just keep trying.

We've Got Options

I once heard a psychologist explain that depression is caused when a person can only see two ways to go and he doesn’t like either one of them.  That may be an over-simplification, but there is something important here for all of us: there are always options. 

Too many times we come into a situation and only see one or two options open for us to pursue. If we don’t like either one, sometimes we need to accept what we don’t like and move on. But often there are other options if we just let our imaginations explore the situation. Many times there are options that aren’t as obvious that offer us new possibilities and great opportunities, but we have been so stuck in the rut of habit that we don’t even consider those options.

So next time you are feeling vexation because of choices you need to make, sit down with a piece of paper and write out all the options you can think of. Let your imagination soar. Some of the things you think of may be absolutely ridiculous, but write them down anyway. They’ll give you a good laugh and that is like taking medicine! Later go back through the list, consider each option carefully, and then choose the best one. Don’t look back, move forward in faith and then let the future unfold for you.

Buoyed Not Depressed

This morning I received news that a beautiful baby girl had died after suffering through many operations and medical procedures. Yesterday I received news that a young relative has decided that the path marked “eat, drink, and be merry” is more fun than the path marked righteousness. The day before that I heard about a friend going through a terrible divorce and custody battle. It seems like every day there is some horrible news—some death, disaster, or despair. All this news can easily depress us and drag us down into the depths of sorrow and despair—deep into the Pit. But it doesn't have to.

The word depress means to “press down.” And if we look at these types of situations alone they can press us down. But the secret is to to not look down, but to look up. Overcoming the depression these situations cause comes when we see something different. By refusing to “press down” and instead “push up,” we see a Savior taking the little one in His arms and welcoming her home. We see a Savior beckoning with outstretched hands for the young man to return to His embrace. We see a Savior shedding tears of sorrow for the woman who isn’t even aware that His hand is in hers protectively guiding her through her heartache and sorrow. We see.

By looking up instead of down, we see a life preserver, a floating device, that we can latch onto. We are buoyed instead of depressed. We are lifted and encouraged because we see a bigger picture—a picture that includes the Cure, the Healer, the Solution to the sorrow of the world.

We Are Our Own Best Help

I was reading a book the other day on depression and was struck by something the author said: “The crucial decision to try to help yourself is the key that will allow you to feel better as soon as possible” (David D. Burns, M.D., Feeling Good, p. 23, emphasis in original). If you have been reading Good News! for long you know that I have been reading the self-help literature that is available and comparing it to the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many of the teachings in the literature are based on solid gospel principles, but some of the things being taught are way off base and could be detrimental to our eternal welfare.

This statement from Dr. Burns is not only right on as a gospel principle, but is foundational to our spiritual growth. It is all about the great gift of agency that God has given us. We live in a world that teaches us that we are pawns beings manipulated by situations, heritage, environment, and chemicals within us. Some of that is true. Those things absolutely do influence us, but we underestimate the power, through our agency, we have to override those influences.

When people are dismayed, discouraged or depressed they tend to wait for a cure—a medicine that will work or a friend or health-care provider that will rescue them and give them the answers to their problems. But the gospel teaches us that we should be “anxiously engaged in a good cause” (D&C 58:27). What better cause than our own mental well-being?

Thus when we are determined to help ourselves, when we acknowledge that we can choose a different course, we begin a chain of feelings and attitudes that heal and strengthen and help us to grow spiritually, emotionally, and physically. The amazing thing is that just by determining that we are going to help ourselves, we open the door for the Spirit to be more active in our lives.