I have been pursuing a goal that often becomes very difficult. The issue is, what does one do when they feel depressed and anxious?

Naturally, there are many different ways that people suggest to accomplish this feat. For me, there are two ways that help: listening to music and writing.

Some suggest meditation, and others Buddhist chanting. Doctors want us to take medications that in some cases make things worse. The question is, what works for you?

As I sit here writing, beautiful music is playing on YouTube. The same music doesn't help every day. Sometimes it's music that lifts the spirits, and on others it's music that is calming.

No two days are exactly alike. There are mornings when one awakens exhausted after a difficult night trying to sleep. Then there are others when one feels physical discomfort that cries out for relief. I am never sure what method is the correct choice. If you struggle with a similar issue, perhaps you can relate to what I am describing.

One afternoon I was speaking with a man who lives in my building, and his suggestion was to write. He shared that years ago when he was suffering a similar malady, he kept writing and for some reason it helped him to deal with it. Thus writing articles for The Latest has become part of my lifestyle. Another is writing poetry. The desktop of my computer is covered with poems I have written, and sharing them often fills my need to communicate.

Life is filled with difficulties, but after discussing this with my therapist, I learned something that was enlightening. Her response to my question about whether Buddhist chanting might be helpful dealing with anxiety and depression opened my eyes to something new. 

She does believe that chanting can be extremely helpful for those who struggle with this problem. Her reasoning was that chanting is in fact breathing, and that in doing so, the person who chants is breathing in air that can deliver oxygen to the brain, and conceivably improve their frame of mind. The mind, as is clear to me, is the place where we process what we are experiencing, and supplying it with additional oxygen may well clear away some of the cobwebs that make productive thinking so difficult, and produce negative results. 

I am now very much interested in pursuing this Buddhist perspective, and hope to go with a friend to observe and possibly participate in their methodology.

What is so exciting about life is that we can learn something new every day, and should remain hopeful that there are different answers still available to those of us who are looking for them.

My plans are to continue to write and listen to music, but am excited about following in the Dalai Lama's footsteps as well. Perhaps I will be sharing some good news very soon.