I'm getting off my butt... like every time!

Feeling depressed? Anxious? Hopeless? In despair? Hurt? These kinds of feelings may bring down the most optimistic person if felt constantly over long period of time. What can I do not to give in to the temptation of just laying down and surrendering to the grief? Usually I just make myself do activities I must, should, want to be doing. However this constant battle between the rational me that wants to survive and the sad me that just does not feel up to any activity stresses me to the point of exhaustion.
What I found latetly for coping with my depression is to be gentle on myself, very delicate and thoughtful with my mind and body and I started giving myself loads of grace. These may sound like obvious measures, but to my overambitious, masochistic, self-loathing part they were, and to some extent still are, unacceptable symptoms of weakness.
Being good to myself will be a journey where I get to know me better, where I learn to respect and appreciate my strengths and embrace my imperfections. It is truely a beginning of a beautiful friendship. A friendship for lifetime.