Wall of Hope: How to Get Out of an Emotional Pit

Below are some ideas as to how to get out of a pity pit...
Please add your ideas in the comments section! 

1. If you're like me, you oscillate between hating God and thinking He might just exist and be good. Truth is... just like gravity, He exists whether we think he does or not. So, since He exists, we might as well get to know Him. One of the best ways out of an emotional pit is to.... Ask God to remind you of His true character (reading Knowledge of the Holy (A.W. Tozer), www.fathersloveletter.com  or Luke 11:11-13, Matthew 7:11, and Psalm 103 can be helpful as well). We humans are masters at learning and believing all kinds of tales. No one lies to me more than me. No one breaks promises to me more than me. 
2. Listen to music that contains positive and truth-filled lyrics (an upbeat tempo doesn't hurt:) )
3. Journal it out! Keep a journal that is solely reserved for upbeat content (hopeful insights, happy memories, truth that set you free, God sightings, encouraging words or actions done by a friend, etc...). When you need to write sad thoughts, feelings, etc... rip a clean page out of your journal, write down all of your angry, sad, etc... thoughts on it and set it aside. Sometime later that day (without re-reading its content) hold up that piece of paper and tell God you're giving him whatever is on it (so He can worry about it for you), then rip it up into small pieces and throw it away. He's got this, you don't have to carry it anymore. 
4. Do one thing (per day or per hour) that you don't feel like doing. Eventually, your feelings will change and you'll begin to feel a sense of accomplishment in the very least and perhaps even experience happiness and peace:)
5. Make a list of what you're grateful for (if you're at a loss for words, you can start here: I'm thankful for a heartbeat, oxygen to breathe, eyes that can see colors, etc...). Try to write at least five things. If you want to keep going, you can keep writing until your feelings start to lift or your pen runs out of ink. :) Share your list with a friend! Gratefulness is powerful. Gratefulness shared with friends is amazing. and gratefulness combined with having Someone to thank is life-changing. Try thanking GOD for giving you good gifts (James 1:17)
6. Contact a psychiatrist / counselor for ideas on how to get to a new emotional "normal". Meds will not fix faulty thought patterns (only Truth will) but meds are sometimes helpful in recalibrating brain chemistry and enabling increased processing capacity while we work through life's tough issues. 
7. Ask God to remind you of a happy, healthy memory to think about (to replace the fixated or depressed thoughts you've been chewing on). Ask Jesus to show you where He is in that memory. 
8. We humans are so prone to blowing things out of proportion when it comes to blaming others for a situation we find ourselves in. Granted, it's really not so much about whose fault something is, but rather about not downplaying (or exaggerating) the role we played in it. I am finding that I do not want to take responsibility for how my actions affected me or others because I'm scared of having to carry more guilt and shame. The good news is, WE DON'T HAVE TO CARRY GUILT AND SHAME! Remember Jesus? He died on a cross over 2,000 years ago to take all of your and my guilt and shame away. While there are natural (and judicial) consequences for the wrong actions we do and apologizing is always in order, we don't have to cherish or hold on to our guilt and shame. If you believe he can and will take ALL of your guilt and shame, He will. We can ask Jesus to remind us that He is carrying it away and giving us (totally undeserved) LIFE in its place  (Colossians 2:13-14). #gospel 
9. Look for His fingerprints and write down what you see. Each day is like a treasure hunt. God is the creator and thus is the most creative being in the universe. He doesn't run out of new ideas of how to show you He loves you. Ask Him to open your eyes to these peace gifts, these fingerprints of Himself, that He places on your day and then write them down. You can use them for future re-encouragement. Knowing that He is actively working in your life will help you feel less alone and will breathe hope into your soul, especially if you thought He didn't exist. 
10. Reach out to a healthy friend. If you can't think of one, ask God (even if you don't think He exists, if couldn't hurt to ask, right?) to remind you of a healthy friend you already have or introduce you to a new one. If you'd like a refresher on what a healthy friend would be like, check out the friendship chapter in the book Boundaries: How to Say No and When to Say Yes to Take Control of Your Life (by Henry Cloud & John Townsend). For a faster read, check out this article: Picking Good People (by Henry Cloud) or if you'd rather watch a video, check this out. Here are some more videos on creating healthy friendships/relationships. 
11. Serve and bless someone else (make cookies, write a note, deliver a hug, make an encouraging phone call, etc...)
12. Make a list of new things you would like to do. If you can't think of anything. Ask the Creator... he's got some cool ideas!
13. Take a nap. (set your alarm and have a plan for what to do when you get up)
14. Eat some healthy food (protein included).
15. Exercise... the happy chemicals (endorphins) that get released after an intense workout are amazing mood boosters!
16. Look online for clean humor to laugh at. Laughter is surely one of the best heart "medicines" :)
17. Smile! You heard me. Smile! The simple act of forcing your face into a smile, over time, will start to lift your mood. Sounds crazy, but it actually does help!
18. Don't try to do everything on this list at once. Try one idea and see how it goes. Then try another later on if you want to. :) You are loved.

This list is definitely not exhaustive, so please add your ideas in the comments section below!