Are You Depressed or Humbled?

When we get the wind knocked out of us physically, we naturally need a moment to recover.

When we get the wind knocked out of us emotionally, it's easy to retreat. We go inward, hide, keep the world at arm’s length, and in short, begin to depress ourselves.

But what if we're not depressed? What if were simply humbled or discouraged?

Just like the physical experience, it may be the result of a mistake, an error in judgment, or a moment when we were less prepared than we'd hoped to be. A chance to pause, catch our breath, and take an honest look at what really happened.

I'm reminded of a story told in The West Wing. A man falls into a deep hole and cant get out. A doctor walks by, writes a prescription, and moves on. A priest walks by, offers a prayer, and moves on. Then the mans best friend comes along and jumps into the hole.

"What did you do that for?" the man asks. "Now were both stuck down here."

His friend replies, "Yeah, but I've been here before. I know the way out."

Don't fall for the temptation to isolate yourself or sink deeper into discouragement. Instead, press on with what you know and lean on the people who have been there before and can help show the way forward.