Depression: Keep Moving
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” - Albert Einstein
We hear a lot of talk about depression today, and I believe it is an important issue that needs to be addressed. However, it needs to be defined from a Christian perspective if we are going to find lasting solutions. While most modern understandings of depression mostly have a clinical twist, the concept has been around as long as sin has been in the world. It is important to remember that depression is complex, and looks different for each person who suffers from it. There is no singular cause-and-effect way to explain the phenomenon of depression — It is not solely a chemical imbalance in the brain, it is not always rooted in trauma, and it is not always a direct result of demonic oppression. It could be all of the above, or none of the above.
Depression is not only an emotional state of sadness, it is a prolonged, heavy weight on a person’s soul. The person experiencing depression struggles to find meaning in their own lives, and of life in general. They can feel emotionally and physically paralyzed, being quite literally stuck in every way. An overwhelming sense of meaninglessness in life can cause the person to ‘check out’ and not pursue the things that used to give them purpose; such as hobbies, friendships, family, careers, or attending Church.
It is no surprise Einstein had an amazing intellect, but the quote above displays his wisdom as well. He gives a quick, yet profound, solution for every person experiencing depression: “keep moving.” With the metaphor of riding a bicycle in our minds, let’s further explore the solutions to depression.
Get Motivated: Wanting to get on the bike again.
Before we take action in any facet of life, we first need the motivation to take action. When it comes to the “keep moving” advice for depression, we should first want to move, otherwise, we’ll never move. The motivated person-in-motion doesn’t have time to stop and dwell on all of the pain of life, because they are continually moving on to the next thing in store for them. Only when they are moving forward in their God-appointed purpose can they achieve balance in life, defeating the burden of depression.
So how does one get motivated? Well, you might not like it but it takes work to get motivated. Moving on and staying busy may seem like hollow platitudes for a person experiencing depression, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t truth to them. If you struggle with depression, you may know that you should “keep moving,” but you likely have little, or no motivation to do so. Here’s the reality: you might not want to get on the bike now, but you can train yourself to want it with a little work on your mind, body, and soul (1 Cor 9:27). If you are struggling to get motivated; whether that be to take care of yourself, to go to work, or to keep up relationships with loved ones; here are some tools to get you motivated.
Detach depression from you. If depression isn’t dealt with, over time, people can accept that depression is an unchangeable part of who they are. Thankfully though, depression does not have to define a person or dictate the rest of their lives — despite what you’ve heard about genetics and physiology. One’s circumstances do not define them, rather, they define their circumstances. God has given us all the power to control our thoughts, shape our brains, alter future generations, and change our perspectives so that we can live in true joy (Leaf, 2015). If you’re a Christian, the Holy Spirit defines you. He will also change your mind and behavior if you let Him. A good first step in becoming motivated is to reframe the depression as a choice. Describe it as a verb, instead of a noun or adjective. Instead of saying “I’m depressed right now,” try saying “I’m depressing myself right now,” or “Depression is happening to me right now.” Statements like these can empower you to choose what you let into your life. (Glasser, 1975)
Fake it until you make it. Self-talk and imagination can work wonders in improving depression. One exercise you can do is to act out the emotions that you would prefer to experience. The Adlerian equivalent would be to act “as if” you were already the person that you wanted to be (Tan, 2020). All it takes is saying that you feel a certain way to yourself, and believing that it is true. For a depressed person, this might mean faking that you are a joyful, motivated person. This type of method emphasizes personal responsibility and not allowing external forces such as the spiritual enemy and life events to keep you downtrodden.
Make it a game: Work isn’t always motivating, but fun can be. I believe the thrill of winning and having fun is an important characteristic that God has instilled in all of us, and is something we have to use. Even the apostle Paul saw his life as a race he wanted to win (Phil 3:14). As I mentioned in the last point, imagination is a powerful tool. When athletes train in their sport, they often imagine “do-or-die” type of scenarios. Whether it’s a basketball player pretending a shot is to win a game 7 in the finals, or a golfer practicing putts and to win the U.S Open; putting a dose of mental pressure is good for self-discipline and can initiate motivation to improve. If you are feeling unmotivated to act in anything, make a game out of your situation and imagine winning for the day: whatever that looks like for you. Reward yourself in healthy ways as you make progress in your journey of obtaining the joy of Christ.
Take Action: Getting on the bike again
Once you’ve made the plan and have resolved in your mind to get that bike, now you have to finally do it. No more talking, no more dreaming, no more waiting for the right time, you’ve got to start doing the things you know you are supposed to. Put the tools to practice above, and watch the wheels start to spin. People don’t transform before they move, they move and then are transformed. When someone is unmotivated and inactive, it only creates a cycle of inactivity. If you don’t care, you don’t move; and if you don’t move, you don’t care. It is a vicious cycle that must be broken and replaced with another. Taking the action will lead to more motivation, which will lead to more action — this is the type of cycling that you need if you struggle with depression. With the desire to ride again, and by finally getting back on the bike again, you’ll be on your way to a more joyful life.
Keep Moving: Peddle and the balance will come.
Now comes the hard part: the continual peddling. There’s another implication in the quote: you will be imbalanced and not if you don’t keep putting in the work. If you peddle a bike for only ten seconds straight, how far will you get? Not very. Healing from chronic depression does not come easy, it takes continual work. While the work may seem daunting or unappealing, with practice and motivation, you can start leaning into the joy that Jesus truly wants you to have.
In general, a wise person is a balanced person. They have a destination in mind and are doing what they can to get there. If and when they lose their balance in life, they know how to find it again, because they keep moving. The biblically wise person understands that there is a “time for everything.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) There is a time for introspection and for contemplation of the realities of life, death, eternity, sin, and mankind’s purpose. It is okay to grieve and feel deeply, these feelings are evidence that we are made in God’s likeness. The problem is that too much time thinking and focusing on the things around us leaves people unbalanced. If we are going to have the strength to overcome the weight of depression, our minds should be set on the things above, not on the earthly things that steal our attention and joy (Col 3:2). Christians, press on toward the goal and keep moving. Joy will follow, and you’ll leave depression in the dust.
