Depression is an epidemic in the modern world. In the United States, there is a significant increase year over year. In general, women are more likely to be depressed, and rates of depression in our youth are increasing at staggering rates. Why do you think that is? Aren’t we supposed to be happier when we supposedly have more freedom, abundance, and technology?
As a therapist, at least half of my clients suffer from depression and anxiety. That’s a whole lot if you think about it. Some people say depression is simply a chemical imbalance in your brain, but I believe that there is far more to the story.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist, described five levels of human needs, from survival to self-actualization.
The first level is pure survival, having the bare minimum to physically survive: food, water, air, and sleep.
The second level is safety, security, resources, and health.
The third is belonging, family, friends, community, and intimacy.
The fourth is self-esteem, confidence, achievement, and respect.
The fifth level is self-actualization, self-fulfillment, achieving your full potential, and expressing your creative power. Your highest joy.
As you can see, to be happy, content, and confident, you need a meaningful purpose, an inspiring force, to propel you through this journey of evolution. When you dedicate yourself to something important to you, something that brings you joy, you are serving yourself, you are serving your community, you feel good about yourself, you have people’s respect, and you are creating a legacy to share. No purpose is meaningless, and everybody has something unique to contribute.
Abandoning Your Dream
We lost touch with the purpose, which is a seed within us all. We let others tell us what we are supposed to do and be. We allowed others to take control over our lives. How did this happen?
We all have a purpose and unique gifts to share. But from the beginning, most of us are told who we are, how to behave, what to do, what to believe, and how to stand in the line. Maybe your family said that even though you are a talented painter or musician, you can’t make a career and a living out of that, so you better let go and pursue something more logical, safer, and more accepted by your family.
And then, of course, society also tells you what is considered to be a lucrative or wise career and why you should follow a sure path to get recognized. There are a lot of expectations in our society. And, of course, you want to please your family, be accepted in society, make enough money, and be proud of your career.
A common denominator I observed with my clients who suffer from depression is giving their dreams up for money and security.
The Money Trap
For example, one of my clients is a successful businessman with a luxury house, happily married with two kids to his wife, who also has a successful career. He is also a talented musician and has a passion for creating and sharing his music, so much so that he set up a recording studio in his basement.
His dream from the beginning was to share his music with the world, but this dream ended up being stuffed into his basement, and even though he records his music and creates his albums, nobody knows or listens to his work.
When he came to me, he said he had struggled with depression for a long time, and he felt bored, numb, and unsatisfied. Even though he checked all the boxes, he still feels empty, even though he has the house, the happy wife, the gorgeous kids, and plenty of money. He told me that the reason he never pursued a music career was money because he couldn’t imagine that with his music, he could earn enough money to keep up his standard of living and provide for his family. And this happens so many times. And what is the price?
We lost meaning and purpose. We accepted to walk on the treadmill of life. We took on the labels and wore them proudly. And you know what happened? We lost our lives. We got tired of walking on the beaten path. To wear other’s cross. To give up our dreams and our hopes. To surrender our power to the ones who were ready to take and exploit our minds and souls. Of course you are depressed, dear brother/sister.
Depression and Life Purpose
Depression is a feeling of not caring anymore about yourself and your life. In many cases, although not all, this feeling can be rooted in forgetting your dream and not living your purpose. When you follow your calling and honor it, you experience a type of joy and fulfillment that is difficult to attain in other ways, and this can carry you through hard times and challenges.
How Do You Recover Your Dreams?
Maybe you don’t even remember your dreams anymore. Maybe you do, but you are too scared to follow. Here are some ways you can rekindle your dream and take the first steps toward it.
- Start to remember and write down what truly excited you as a child.
- Pay attention to what fills you with so much joy that you lose track of time.
- Identify what topics make you light up in conversation.
- Consider what you’d do if money weren’t a concern.
- Create something just for the joy of it.
- Listen to your inner voice. Notice when you say, “I always wanted to…” or “I wish I could…”
Get Professional Help
The first step is to connect with your dream, and the next step is to follow it. I recommend that you get professional help with the second one because there are internal blockages you might not be aware of that hold you back from following your dream.
These can be limiting beliefs, and they can be ‘protective parts’ of your psyche. It can be your wounded inner child, it can be a strong resistance that bears you down, it can be past trauma that keeps you stuck, or deep-seated fear that keeps you in freeze.
You will probably need help to transform unconscious programming and limiting beliefs, dismantle complex defense mechanisms, deactivate trauma responses, and regulate your nervous system. Often, these represent a blind spot for you, meaning you are unaware that you have that problem, and it’s easier to get help with these than trying to work it out alone because it will take longer and be more painful.
There are many ways you can do this work. IFS (internal family systems), inner child work, somatic therapy, and CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) are just a few that can assist you in making your dreams come true.
Sacred Plants Plant medicine and depression
Psychedelic-assisted therapy and working with sacred plants have become more and more popular in recent years. Renewed research also shows promising results, especially in using ayahuasca to treat depression.
Some say that one ayahuasca ceremony equals 10 years in therapy, and I agree! But it’s important to emphasize that ayahuasca is not a magic pill, and you cannot bypass the deep inner healing work you have to do to get the results you desire. This means responsible preparation, a safe and integral ayahuasca ceremony, and professionally guided integration in a therapeutic container.
Sacred plants and mother ayahuasca herself helped me and many others to reconnect with their heart, their purpose, and their mission. She can definitely help you by showing you what is blocking you and helping you remember your purpose. However, you need to remove those blockages, follow your path, and act upon your calling.
I’ve seen many people recover entirely from treatment-resistant depression when they do this inner work, so it is possible. Here is a video testimonial from one of my clients who did just that.
Final Thoughts
Depression may feel like a heavy burden to carry, but reconnecting with your deepest dreams and authentic purpose can possibly help you take the first steps toward healing. Whether through therapy, inner work, or sacred plants, the path to recovery begins with permitting yourself to imagine a different life that is in alignment with your purpose.
Remember, you weren’t born to simply survive or to live your life according to other people’s expectations. You were born to thrive, create, and share your unique gifts with the world. Taking even small steps toward your dreams today can begin to lift the heavy fog of depression and support you on your path of healing and living a meaningful life.
Imagine a world where we all do what we love, where our work is our highest expression of joy and passion. What would that world look like?
It’s never too late to answer the call of your soul’s destiny.
Choose wisely.
