Some of the most
compassionate and caring people got that way because they learned to thrive in
difficult times. They know what it’s like to be at rock bottom and have
to climb their way out.
While no
one chooses to go through difficulties, how you respond to
them makes a huge difference. Like the proverbial tree, you can bend, or you
can break.
Yet, developing
strategies to get through hardships isn’t a natural part of growth. These come
with trial and error.
If you’d rather
not learn from your mistakes and you want to take a proactive approach, use
these tips to thrive in difficult times.
1.
Focus on Your Goals
In a list of your
top goals, chances are “success” would be one of them. This broad term is
tossed around a lot, but what does it really mean?
We all want to be
successful, but this term implies something different to everyone. Dig deep and
figure out how you’ll know when you’ve reached the level of “success.”
As you develop
your goals, each one will have its own target. To keep on the path that’s going
to help you attain each goal, always have these questions in mind:
- What are
your goals?
- What’s your
definition of success?
- Is what
you’re going through now throwing them off course?
- How
can you get back on track?
- What will
your successful life look like?
Tomorrow is going
to come, regardless of how you handle the difficulties of today. Plant the
seeds of success in at least one goal every day, even if you have to crawl to
get there.
2.
Validate Your Feelings
Many people are
raised to believe that showing emotion is a sign of weakness. But you don’t
have to see your feelings as a bad thing. Ignoring how you feel or trying to
cover it up often leads to unhealthy addictions.
The truth is that
when you can accept and validate your emotions, you are more likely to handle
them in a healthy way.
As a bonus, you
become a role model for those around you, especially children. They’ll see you
thriving in hard times and begin to copy your strategies.
3.
Switch Your Perspective
Those who thrive
in life weren’t born with silver spoons or the magic touch. They know how to
switch their mindsets to focus on moving forward, regardless of the
difficulties they face.
When you first
notice that you’re complaining or feeling down about a situation, acknowledge
the reason. Then, look for something else you can do to pull yourself out of
the negative thinking.
If you’re not
cautious, that negativity can spiral into sadness or depression. Catching it at
the source and switching your perspective to something positive helps you keep
going until you can deal with the problem.
4.
Talk It Out
Have you ever had
something driving you crazy in your head, but once you said it out loud, you
realized it wasn’t that bad?
Find a trusted
friend or a therapist to talk out your worries and goals. Talk therapy is
often covered by insurance. It’s a recommended way to identify the problems in
your life and learn coping strategies to work through them.
5.
Think About the Solution, Not the Problem
There are two
main types of people in the world: those who focus on problems and those who
look for solutions.
Yes, you need to
acknowledge the problem exists. Once you recognize it, though, don’t wallow in
it. Look for ways you can solve the issue and move forward.
Being able to
think this way isn’t natural for everyone. Don’t feel bad if you’re not wired
this way automatically. There are lots of classes and life coaches who can help
you retrain your brain.
Solution-oriented
thinking is one of the traits almost all successful leaders share. It’s a
skill that will help you thrive in hard times and excel in the rest of your
life.
6.
Learn to be Grateful
In the dark
times, it’s so difficult to focus on the good things in your life. It can feel
like you have nothing but problems, but that’s not true for anyone.
Yet, the little
things you’re supposed to be grateful for aren’t always easy to see.
They’re probably even things you take for granted.
Learning to be
thankful for those small conveniences and blessings is everything. The attitude
of gratitude is one of the best ways to get through hard times.
Every day, make a
list of at least ten things that you can be grateful for. Then, when you feel
least like being thankful, pull those lists out and read them.
Inch by inch,
you’ll start to realize that things aren’t as bad as they seem, and that
there’s always something to be happy about.
7.
Put Yourself First
Self-care is a
buzzword today, and for a good reason. Research shows that your
mental health declines when you’re always taking care of others and never
yourself.
Putting yourself
first doesn’t mean you’re selfish — it means that you know you can’t pour from
an empty cup.
Before you say
you can’t afford self-care, please know that it doesn’t mean going for a spa
day or a shopping spree. Self-care could look like that, yes, but it can also
mean:
- Eating
healthier
- Going for a
walk
- Sleeping
better
- Journaling
- Finding a
hobby
- Practicing yoga or
meditating
Anything that
helps you recharge your batteries—and you’ll feel it when you find the right
activities—is self-care.
8.
Develop Boundaries
You were born a
human, not a doormat. But over time, many of us learn that it’s easier to say
“okay” than “no.” Eventually, this can drain your mental health, especially
when you’re already going through hard times.
Part of taking
care of yourself is determining where boundaries are necessary and creating
them. You don’t need a wall, but you do need a border.
When others are
nearing the line, let them know. It’s there to protect your relationship with
them, not to keep them out of your life entirely.
Remember,
boundaries are the distance where you can love yourself and the other person at
the same time.
9.
Eat Right
One of the first
things to get pushed to the curb when we’re stressed is our health. It’s just
easier to eat processed foods, run through the drive-thru, or skip meals
entirely.
But this “easy”
route makes things much harder for you in the long run. The fifteen minutes you
saved is multiplied exponentially over the years when the junk food results in
chronic diseases.
Nutritional
depletion also saps your energy. Your body needs good food to run every system
inside you, both physically and psychologically. Vitamin deficiencies are
responsible for many mental health illnesses.
If you want to
get through those difficult circumstances, you’ll do it better if you pass up
the sweets and grab some fruit.
10.
Check Your Growth
When you were a
child, you never noticed yourself growing until you measured yourself against
something else. The same theory applies to your personal growth in life.
Where you are now
might not be your final destination, but is it further than you were in the
past?
Sometimes, small
steps are better than big leaps. What little victories can you celebrate each
day, even through your difficult times?
Every inch
forward is progress, even if it’s followed by setbacks. Keep your finish line
in sight. Whatever goal you’re working towards, focus on the tiny movements,
not the big jumps.
11.
Give Yourself Some Grace
More than
anything else, you must practice giving yourself permission to mess up. We all
make mistakes, especially when we’re facing adversity. If you harp on every
single screw-up, you’ll beat yourself down.
That doesn’t mean
you can stop trying. It means when you know you’ve done the best you could do
at the moment, and it doesn’t work, it’s okay.
Pushing to give
100% when you don’t have it is setting yourself up for failure. If you can’t
give your all to one thing, do something else until you can.
To thrive in
life, you must give yourself grace and be comfortable learning from your
mistakes.
Conclusion
Successful people
don’t always get that way because it was handed to them. For millions of
people, it’s the obstacles and challenges that make them
succeed!
It’s not always
easy to remember the silver linings when times are tough, but these tips will
remind you to keep moving forward so you can thrive, no matter what situation
you’re in.
Source: https://bit.ly/3o4LrLk
About the author
Caitlin
Sinclair is the business manager at Elements 616, an apartment community in Redondo Beach, CA.
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