Is there one particular card that, no matter how bad things get, always scores well? Perhaps it is one of the negative cards, like Hostile: you never feel particularly unfriendly to others, so can always mark it at zero. Perhaps it is one of the positive cards, like Alert or Attentive, which we discussed last week. For me it is Determined.

Whatever happens in my life, I am determined to stick it out. My family call me stubborn and I know I can stick with things long, long after I should have moved on, but I think, generally, determined is a good thing to be.

I remember the bad times very well. I remember, during that very hot spell a couple of years ago, when temperatures hit the upper thirties, I was huddled and shivering under a blanket on the sofa. In times like that, although I know the depression will eventually lift - and it always lasts exactly six weeks – it feels as if it will never end. It is very hard to believe that the light and warmth will come again and that, as one of my favourite authors says, the world will again have sharp and defined edges.

In those times, few of the positive cards score well. I am not active or alert or interested. I can’t feel enthusiastic about anything, and I am certainly not inspired. On the other hand, I am still determined. Perhaps a better term for it, in those times, is endurance. It is a stubborn refusal to let go. Even when hope is too much, endurance is still there.

The Moodscope definition of the card is, “being resolute.” AI Overview describes determination as “a firm unwavering resolve to achieve a goal, despite obstacles or difficulty.” When you look up resolute, the words determined, unwavering and firm are used.

Those words unwavering and firm are interesting because I think determination can waver. It can also be caught back – it can be decided upon. I don’t think we have much control over how active we feel, or how alert, but I do think we have some control over how determined we are.

But what is the goal we are determined to achieve? For me, in the bad times, it is just to get through - not to give up entirely. I make a real effort to still see my best friend once a week, although she has to come to me, and on occasion it has just been a telephone call because I was just not up to seeing anyone at all. I am determined to get out of bed each day and shower, even when I really don’t want to, and even if I then collapse on the sofa for the rest of the day.

I know this may be different for you, and I’d be interested to hear how you mark this card, or indeed, any other card you feel positive about. Do let me know in the comments.

Mary

A Moodscope member