This blog is a collection of my best working theories on organizing your internal world so you can effectively navigate the external world to achieve your desired outcomes. We’ll explore things like pathways that lead to depression, how to get out, how to find yourself, how to know your true identity, how to change your identity, how to end the war with yourself, how to be joyful, how to build authentic confidence, how to take action to achieve goals and much more. It is both philosophical and practical.

This came about because I found myself ensnared in a depression, and after numerous failed attempts to escape, I felt utterly convinced I’d never escape. Believing I was broken in some terrible and unrepairable way. Of course, things only got worse.

In suffering, I realized two things: 1) when you are in a dark place, you hurt the people closest to you the most. 2) I must change. Not someone else or circumstance – me. No matter what. I can’t continue inflicting suffering on those closest to me. I tolerated my suffering, even believing I deserved it. But the people who love me didn’t deserve it. 

Despite previous attempts resulting in nil – I can’t quit and will keep trying until I figure this out. It took years of trial and error to escape. After that, years of stumbling, climbing to a joyful state, and learning how to stay there. Some days, my state still drops, but thanks to years of honing these skill sets, when I drop, I don’t drop as low, and I don’t stay down for long. Now, I hardly drop, and I can always return to joy.

Examining this process with 20/20 hindsight, I observed patterns that move me towards depression or joy. The ideas shared here map out the course I charted to navigate through my problems to help you navigate yours.

Going from one end of the spectrum (depression) to the other (joy) fascinated me with humanity’s ability to realize a wide range of potential. Since then, I’ve been on a mission to figure out how to do this intentionally in other areas of my life. I’ll be sharing these formulas as well. 

These theories are based on closely observing my experience and that of others who have achieved great things in at least one area of their lives. By doing so, we can identify and extract the common threads and use them to sow together the fabric of our lives and reap the same rewards. How does one focus on an area of life and realize its highest potential?

You don’t have to take my word for it because, after all, who the hell am I? I want you to take these theories and apply them in your life like a scientist – with authentic effort, an open mind, and as non-presumptive as possible. See the results for yourself and build your belief with the evidence of your own experience on the solid ground of reality.

At no point am I saying, ‘I’m right, and you’re wrong,’ or claiming this is the only way. Diversity is very beneficial, especially with beliefs, and there are a plethora of ways to achieve the same result; this is simply what worked for me.

I hope it helps. It’s the best I have.

Sincerely,

Daniel Barton.