“One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”

“The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. But it is tragic only at the rare moments when it becomes conscious.”

Albert Camus - French author, journalist and key philosopher of the 20th Century

Sisyphus, a Greek Mythology figure, was a King told to have challenged the gods and put Death itself in chains so that no other human would ever need to die. As Death was eventually unchained by the God of War, Ares who was worried as battles had lost all entertainment; it was ordered that it was time for Sisyphus to die.

As he learned his fate, Sisyphus tried to deceit them again and to escape from his prison in the Underworld. When he was captured for the last time, the gods decided on his punishment: Forever, he would have to push a large boulder to the top of a mountain; when the rock the peak, it would roll down again and Sisyphus would have to start over and over again.

Camus thought of Sisyphus as an hero who lived his life to the fullest, hated death and was condemned to a meaningless task for the rest of eternity in punishment and deep depression. Camus thought of the Sisyphus tale as a metaphor for the modern lives of today’s white collar worker spending his life working in meaningless jobs in offices.

Camus thought the magic moment was indeed when the rock was marching down the mountain once again. That was the glimpse of eternity in which the hero had to confront his own misery and his terrible fate. The philosopher claimed that it was only when he accepted the futility of his task and the certainty if his fate that he reached a state of contented acceptance. As that state endowed him with an extraordinary ability to endure his pain, he finally started beating depression, eventually overcoming it.

This means the effort alone should be enough to make the common human content. We must find something to do with our lives that we can live with with and enjoy doing by itself, or the rock will eventually become heavier and heavier and we will eventually lose all strength and let the rock run us over.

The top of the mountain is only the destination, the real pleasure is to be had in the journey there. As much as it may seem terrifically appealing to us, we’ll have waste our life if we have to endure daily hell in trade for a moment of bliss. Beating depression is therefore not so much about changing the world around us, but more about the way we react to it, in a way that what was only yesterday bleak and depressing, now seems colorful and filled with life.

These kind of quotes about depression make us realize we all have to carry some boulders through life, everyone has some luggage to their soul, but we must learn to love the boulders that we’re carrying, for they are the ones that truly shaped our personality and who we are today. When we do learn to love them, they cease to be boulders and become feathers.

This article is about how to cure depression naturally. Since anti-depressants don’t work for everyone, many turn to other ways to cure depression. It is always a good idea to have a medical professional monitoring treatment and suggesting a new approach if the current one isn’t working. Be sure to find one that is willing to try the methods you are most interested in and someone you can work with and trust.

Talk to Other People

Whether you talk specifically about your depression symptoms and what may have caused them or just about yourself and your life in general, talking to someone who understands can be one of the most beneficial ways to cure depression.

Photo by madamepsychosis

Many people find group therapy to be helpful, but others prefer one-on-one counseling sessions. For a less formal setting, a caring friend or family member who is good at listening and supporting you but not judging can also be a wonderful way to boost your mood and improve your outlook.

Serve Others

Doing nice things for other people is a great way to feel better about yourself. Many people who have suffered from depression say that helping others was beneficial in helping them improve. You can volunteer for local charities, at a nursing home, with kids at a school or just do something kind for a neighbor or friend. As an additional benefit, you may make new friends and find their on-going support helps combat your depression.

Outside

Just being outside can improve your mood and boost the endorphins in your brain. Exercise is also great at combating depression, so try to go walking, biking, running, jogging or hiking outdoors as much as you can. Having an exercise partner can help you keep it up and gives you someone to talk to as well. You can also benefit from regularly walking your dog, who can give you additional love and companionship at home. If you don’t have one, consider getting a pet since pet-owners are statistically less likely to suffer from depression.

Do What You Love

Many people with depression no longer enjoy things that they used to like. Try to rekindle your interest in a past hobby by doing it with others or trying it out again. Also explore new interests. You may discover a new passion that you will enjoy for years to come.