BY EDISON MARTE SICAD
“The poverty of the incapable, the distress that comes upon the imprudent, the starvation of the idle, and those shoulderings aside of the weak by the strong, which leave so many ‘in shallows and in miseries,’ are the decrees of a large, farseeing benevolence.” – Herbert Spencer
DEFINING a word can give exactness as to its meaning. However, the given definition can also serve as its limitation. In the same manner, knowing can then liberate as well as imprison the knower.
There are individuals who are so brilliant that they no longer appreciate other people’s opinion. And there are those who would use their personal lack of education as a social crisis that other educated people must responsibly solve.
An estimated 3.8% of the population experience depression, including 5% of adults (4% among men and 6% among women), and 5.7% of adults older than 60 years. Approximately 280 million people in the world have depression (1). Depression is about 50% more common among women than among men. Worldwide, more than 10% of pregnant women and women who have just given birth experience depression (2). More than 700 000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in 15–29-year-olds. (World Health Organization, March 2023)
Society has weaponized human weakness, making an individual a hostage to his or her moods or “bad” feelings.
I believe that a person’s moments of hardship must be seen as a necessary struggle. And failures and disappoints must be appreciated as indicators of growth to be valued instead of bad feelings to be depressed about. A depressed person must be considered as a warrior undergoing training instead of being seen as a patient undergoing treatment.
“Depression is a real illness and help is available. With proper diagnosis and treatment, the vast majority of people with depression will overcome it. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, a first step is to see your family physician or psychiatrist. Talk about your concerns and request a thorough evaluation.” — Chinenye Onyemaechi, M.D., Physician Review, April 2024.
Of course, there is such a thing as serious mental depression that would need some medical interventions. But to some of us, especially the youth, we use depression as a valid reason for giving up in times of (repeated) disappointments and failures. As if we, as a society, have the right to demand from Life that it has be perfect, beautiful, and nice. That Life is not supposed to be hard. That other people make Life difficult. That if we don’t want to have problems, then Life must not give us problems. As aptly put by a self-entitled whiner, “I didn’t ask to be born!”
But we are born anyway. And whether we like it or not, we better find or make our own way or others will.
Work as a weapon against depression:
1. Work hard. Don’t be late. (Even stay late from time to time.)
This is actually done by some employees who have found a reason to do so. The key word is found. It also means that anyone can also find an excuse not to do so. But in a competitive society where consistency and excellence are deeply needed and highly rewarded, the validity of a reason or an excuse is totally in the mind of the employee.
2. Work more than what you’re paid for.
This could be the most illogical, unfair, or unpopular work advice. Others would even consider it inhuman. To clarify, I am not advocating modern slavery here like sweatshops and minors under forced labor. These matters would require institutional and political interventions. I am only referring here to work situation that would need personal decisions.
All things considered, an employee can rise to the ranks or become the best employee in his or her current field of work. Our personal daily work can actually be continuously improved—if we really want to. And who will stop you if you want to be the best in your chosen field? No one. Except you. Unless you allow others to do so.
But here is the catch. When you decide to just drift around and work in a mediocre manner, always remember that someone out there has chosen to work better. It could be your colleague. Or someone lower in rank than you is training hard to replace or make you obsolete.
3. Don’t work for retirement. Work for life.
Do not limit your potential by social structures. Do not define your life fulfillment by social expectations. You work your life. This means that you take care of your health to become more productive at work. You save money not primarily for any emergency but as your work philosophy and lifestyle. And you value relationships without sacrificing your ideals.
Find ways to optimize your working hours and make the most in creating a presentable working space. Design your workplace as the best corner in the world.
Work is not a punishment. Neither is it a conditional burden given to us to stay alive. To the contrary, work — or working hard — can be the most manly (or womanly) reputation a person can have.
In conclusion, those who say that we must take it easy, to enjoy life to the fullest, that we deserve to have all these holidays, vacations, and free time (as long as we get paid) from work, are the endorsers of depression. For working is not the problem. It is in pretending to work while reporting for work and in wishing not to work while working.
For depression is (a sort of) a sorting hat. Only the fittest will eventually survive. And we can decide either to be fit or not. But the sorting will surely happen. So stop endorsing depression and start working hard./PN
