Life has its great times, its average times, and its rough times. Mountains always have valleys.

The old preacher said, “Sometimes I’m up, sometimes I’m down, and sometimes I’m almost to the ground.” Usually we feel as if we’re on the fast track, and other times on the slow track, but sometimes we feel as if we’re tied to the track. Those are the times when we’re helpless, hopeless, hurt and humorless.

We have all been there. People have different names for it. The Apostle Paul called it losing heart, one pastor called it low tide, another called it the minister’s fainting fits, the Psalmist called it the depths, the poet called it the dark night of the soul, psychologists call it depression, and I call it Monday. It’s the down time.

When you got up this morning, did you sing “Oh, What A Beautiful Morning,” or did you sing, “Make the World Go Away?” Did your Ivory soap sink? Then you may have the blues.

How do you battle the blues? First, you grow up and prepare for difficult times. Unless you’re Superman, you will have some wrecks.

When the late Muhammad Ali was in his prime, about to take off on an airplane, a flight attendant reminded him to fasten his seatbelt. He replied brashly, “Superman don’t need no seatbelt.” The flight attendant quickly answered, “Superman don’t need no airplane, either.” Ali fastened his seatbelt.

Let’s see if any of you are Superman. Can you leap tall buildings in a single bound? Are you faster than a speeding bullet? Are you more powerful than a locomotive? Are you Superman? No? Then don’t go through life thinking you are. Prepare for the wrecks of life. Your seatbelt will wrinkle your shirt, but so will the windshield.

Grow up and don’t give up. A very eccentric inventor created a soft drink. Everyone who tried it told him how great it was and that he ought to market and sell it. He got excited, formed a company, came up with a marketing plan, and called his drink 4-UP, but nobody bought it. He got a little discouraged, but he hired a different marketing director, added more sugar, less fizz, and called it 5-UP. Once again, nobody bought it. He was still discouraged, but he went back and tried it again and this time he called it 6-UP, but still no takers. Completely discouraged he quit. If only he had known how close he was to 7-UP. Don’t give up. Think up. Think 7-UP.

Grow up, don’t give up, and keep moving. When you have the blues, you tend to isolate yourself, stay home, eat, watch Jerry Springer, and tell yourself you’ll get better. You won’t. You can’t feel your way out of the blues; you act your way out of the blues.

A pastor was visiting the terminally ill ward at the hospital and asked three men what they wanted said at their funeral. The first said, “Tell them the guy in the casket was a good family man.” The second guy said to say, “The guy in the casket was a loyal husband.” The third guy said, “At my funeral I want you to look down at my casket and say, ‘That guy … that guy is moving!’”

Keep moving. Go to work depressed, but go. Most of life is just showing up. Grow up, don’t give up, show up, and look up.

A young husband’s wife died and left him with a small son. After the funeral, the boy asked if he could sleep with his dad. When the man turned off the lights, the boy said, “It’s so dark I can’t see you. Daddy, is your face toward me?” His father realized he had his back to his son, so he rolled over and put his face very close to his son’s and whispered, “Yes, my face is toward you.”

It doesn’t matter how dark it gets; by faith, look up. God’s face is toward you.

— Charles Lowery is president and CEO of Lowery Institute for Excellence, Inc., a non-profit training and consulting organization. This article was adapted from his book, “Comic Belief.” For more information, visit CharlesLowery.com.