Say ‘Thank You’ Instead of ‘I’m Sorry’
Small changes to your coping with depression habits can dramatically improve your mental health and your life experience. We often think that change has to be big and immediate, but small, long-term changes are just as effective. By incorporating a few small changes into your daily routine, you can practice creating new habits with realistic standards.
I say that I am sorry for almost everything, even things that may be perceived as positive (Over-Apologizing with An Anxiety Disorder). Constantly apologizing creates this unshakable sense of guilt and the feeling that I am not good enough. We apologize because we screw up a little bit and saying “sorry” all the time implies that I am always screwing up. And although I make mistakes, I don’t make as many mistakes as I make apologies.
For the past several months, I have been saying “thank you” instead of “I’m sorry.” This action has improved my interactions with my family and my friends and it turns moments of guilt into moments of gratitude (Be Thankful, Not Sorry). For example, instead of saying, “I’m sorry for being so irritating today,” I say, “Thank you for being patient with me.” The appreciation surrounding that exchange is infinitely positive and improves my mindset in various interactions. Instead of being sorry all the time, I am thankful.
Small changes that you work on over a long period of time can improve your experience coping with depression. But what’s more is that those changes can improve your life in general. Focus on recognizing what you would like to be different in your life and then come up with a way to improve those areas with small changes. It’s actually pretty fun to see how something little can create such influential change.
