Another holiday season has passed. Everyone is filled with happiness and cheer. You smile like everything is cool, but deep inside you are still hurting. He left several years ago with another woman, but it feels like yesterday. You feel like a failure?where did it all go wrong? You continue to play back what happened. You swear each year that it?s all behind you. But you shed the same tears. You sit on your bed in the darkness. You wonder if your life will ever change.

The Holiday Funk

How are you going to rid yourself of those ?Holiday Blues?? How are you going to get out of your rut? It?s 2007 and a brand new year. You over-promised and underachieved on your goals last year. You carry the same baggage from year to year. You have unreached dreams and desires. You put on a fake smile to conceal the pain while you drown in sorrow. You say it doesn?t matter--but it does! Depression sets in. You feel your life is hopeless.

I was traveling with my relative, a social worker. We were discussing her job. She works with the mentally ill. She admitted there was no cure for some of the mental problems. Doctors can treat the symptoms, not give a cure. I asked how she could deal with a situation like this. She mentioned her objective for her clients was to give them coping strategies to deal with life.

Patients have ups and downs. Some get depressed. I asked her why they don?t all just give up. She mentioned that the patients who do well continue to have hope and have a strong support network. According to a Mayo Clinic study, optimistic individuals report a higher level of physical and mental functioning than pessimists. Your perception colors how you view life. Can healing begin with the right kind of attitude?

The Seriousness of Things

Depression can develop for anyone. If you are human, you will experience some disappointments. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, suicide is the eight leading cause of death for all U.S. citizens. It doesn?t take a genius to understand how someone can get depressed. Some individuals call this a ?Pity Party.? You become engulfed in your own self-pity---you figure you got it bad. Can anyone hurt as much as you?

After the holidays, some people are left alone to face the realities of life. This period can bring much unhappiness. Some people, however, manage to snap out of depression while others get too consumed in it and take harsher actions such as suicide. Don?t let yourself down. Take action. Here are a few suggestions for beating the holiday blues:

1. Put things in perspective. Everyone has experienced some setbacks in life. God is not singling you out.
2. Maintain a good attitude.
3. Establish a strong support network. A positive environment will help you get through.
4. Talk to a good listener. Get it off your chest.
5. Find a purpose for your life.

The Celebration of Living

A new year brings new opportunities for a better life. High performing individuals make adjustments in life. You say your circumstance is bad. Look around you. There?s always someone worse off than you. How do people manage to overcome these problems? Your attitude will greatly impact how you will go through the situation. J.M. Barrie, author of The Little White Bird, writes, ?The reason why birds can fly and we can?t is simply that they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.? A positive outlook is always better; keep a healthy dose of optimism. Stay confident that this problem will not last. Start today and enjoy your life.