Consider those with greater problems phairestofthemall: In case this helps anyone else... Whenever I despair I take a step back, objectify, if that's a word. I may be up to my neck in debt, have failed at marriage, caused/feel grief, feel like a bum for living at home again w/ no income, ect, BUT, in the plus column I have my health, youth, high aptitude, good looks, supportive fam/friends, ect, and for that I am very thankful. Then I compare my objectified situation to the true unfortunates of the world, the starving, the homeless, the exploited/abused/dispossessed/ect. I don't feel 'better' persay for thinking of them, but it does put things in perspective- I recognize that next to them my despair is trifling, my situation comparatively manageable, my hopes for the future infinitely more attainable... then I feel thankful again for what I have going for me, and the despair gives way to resolve to make good use of the advantages I'm blessed with.
Re: Consider those with greater problems sasha1: Very wise! I agree; sometimes our own personal situations seem so overwhelming, but it's very humbling to look at the big picture and how much worse it could be. Something else that helps is to look at your situation as something you are actively choosing to be a part of. Sounds weird at first, but when you really think about it, it makes sense. For instance, on the one hand, I often feel frustrated because I feel my ex has/is giving me no alternative but to have this hateful legal battle, and that I'm continually dealing with the consequences of his actions. So what are my alternatives? Well, I suppose I could take the kids and head for the hills to hide out, but I choose not to do that. I could just go along with his "settlement offer", but I choose not to. I could go ahead and send the kids off for unsupervised visits with him, and spend my time praying he doesn't cause them any harm, but I choose not to. The alternatives to doing what I'm doing aren't very attractive, I'll grant you, but I AM choosing my course of action to some degree. It helps to feel that not everything is outside the scope of one's control.
