Language Matters — How Self-Talk Shapes Depression and the Future You Predict

I pay close attention to what people say and do — language plays a big part of my life. Not just spoken, but written, and spoken internally in my mind. In my mind, language merges with images and feelings. Those feelings are often difficult to express with words, and I frequently fail to do so. They just stay, simmering in my gut.

For me, depression has meant an inability to imagine a positive future. And depression feeds on its own misery. My metaphor for this: you're in a deep pit and need to get out, but instead of climbing, you dig deeper. In the end, you get confused and blinded.

I've spent a lot of time predicting the future and looking back at the past. Nobody can predict the future or change the past. I've been stuck predicting negative futures for myself — and by predicting it, I somehow make it come true.

Today's gold nugget is this: when I can't predict the future, and I'm literally just making it up, why not tweak it a little bit so it's brighter? This is such a simple concept, and one I really want to master. If you believe you can do it, then you probably can.

Here's where I'm putting it into practice. I'm 6 days alcohol-free now. I'm focusing on this work. I really feel the support and embrace of the This Naked Mind community. I feel like I belong, and I'm working on predicting a brighter future.