[Onward2wards]

I've been working recently on defining subtle, chronic problems with my thinking and behavior that might explain why I am so susceptible to depression. I am finding that just as much as there are negative things I do or think, there is a lack of positive things that I don't often do or think. This distinction is proving useful.

For example:

Noticing the Negatives: I act more passively and non-assertively than I would like.
Missing positives: I don't act assertively or confidently because I rarely think like an assertive or confident person.
Observation: I am obviously capable of recognizing there's a problem, so thinking more confidently and assertively must be something I could do, perhaps I'm holding back for some reason?

The reason I am beginning to emphasize what's missing in my thinking and behavior (and in my feelings) is because that flips a problem into a possible solution, such as "I want to think like an assertive person", which then leads to the question "How do I do that, and why am I not doing it?", which in turn leads to the sudden recognition that I have self-trust issues, situational pessimism, and situational social anxiety. Finally, I begin to recognize there is a logical cause-and-effect going on here ... this appears to be due to past experiences when attempts to be assertive didn't end well, so I now avoid it without being consciously aware of doing so.

I'm posting in case this method ends up helping others.

[Fuzzybear]

Thanks for sharing