Summary: Anxiety and depression are at epidemic levels in the United States. And leaders are not immune. In today’s episode, John and Jim continue their conversation around how to become your own best friend without becoming a self-centered narcissist.

You can listen to the pod here. Here is the video version.

Show notes are below:

Episode 174: Recap

1. July 2020 CDC: 1 in 4 young adults in America ages 18-24, contemplated suicide due to the pandemic. A 300% increase over July 2019.
2. December 2020: the percentage of Americans reporting depression symptoms during the pandemic spiked to 42%, up from 9% in 2019. That’s a 400% increase over 2019.
3. Pastors suffer from a higher rate of depression than the general population.
4. A foundational piece to wellbeing: Becoming Your Own Best Friend, using Matthew 22:36-39 as our guide.
   1. Healthy self-talk
   2. Understanding the difference between self-care vs. selfishness

Episode 175 Notes:

Two more behaviors that help us obey the greatest commandment in its entirety.

1. Embrace God’s opinion of you
2. If you belong to Jesus, Ephesians 1:5 says: “In love He adopted you, according to His will and pleasure.” Psalm 139 tells you you’re fearfully and wonderfully made. Romans 8 declares you’re more than a conqueror
3. Get in touch with your soul – Proverbs 19:8: “He who gets wisdom loves his own soul.”

Unmasking depression

At least 40-50 million people in U.S.;350 million worldwide.  So . . . what causes it?

• Depression can be event driven.
• Depression can be incremental.
• Depression does not respond to the sheer force of our will.
• It often hits when least expected.