Sometimes it helps to have a plan of attack (regarding the realization I had become depressed).  Sure I have to now do the “work” but I can chip away at the different reasons I had become depressed.  It always helps to have a plan.  All I have to do is execute it and with time my depression will lift.  My plan is to deal with one thing at a time.  I can’t predict when but I can say with certainly, at some point, most of my depression will evaporate.  It is the helpless feelings accompanying the depression that indicate I have work to do and this gives me hope.  What, also, gives me hope is the realization that every depression will end.  It is not forever.  I have some control.  I have to exert it.  Your depression lifts one degree at a time.

We need to accept certain things are out of our control.  There is always an illusion we are in control of our lives but is only relative.  When we accept that there are always things in our lives that we have no control of, it is easier to accept our limitations.

If we insist that we control everything which is really impossible it is batting our heads against the wall.  And the things that are in our control become harder because of the frustration which has to ensue when we can’t accept our limitations.

Every person is going to die, age and eventually lose the level of control you once had in your life.  That is reality.  If you can’t accept the eventuality of that, you lose what is always in your control.

Your attitude is always in your command.  Accepting that there will always be things out of your control and making the most of what you can produces peace of mind.  There are always things in your control.  And you just have to exert them.

The serenity prayer illustrates this perfectly and this is a paraphrase:  accept the things you have no control of and change what is in your power and have the wisdom to know the difference.  There will always be things out of your control.