When Life Gets Hard: Keep Moving Forward, One Step at a Time
1. Confront your struggles head on.
We want to bury our heads in the sand and pretend everything is fine, as if these bad things aren't happening to us. We try to numb ourselves from the pain and reality of the situation. I know I do this. But eventually, you have to face it head on. There is no other way.
2. Realize it's a process, and the process takes time.
Nothing will happen right away. It will take time, and you will travel from one emotion to another and then back again. And it takes as long as it takes. These things cannot be rushed.
3. Kick, scream, get your groove on, and then get spiritual with it.
Realize that it's okay to be angry. Find constructive, creative ways to let your feelings flow out of you.
Climb a hill and once you get to the top, scream until your heart is content. Paint something. Beat up your bedding. It'll only make it more comfortable. Get in some serious cardio, if you can-try dance. Make yourself really sweat. Then try yoga and/or meditation to even you out.
4. Play out your fears about a situation.
With any given situation, play out the scenarios and then ask yourself, "and then what?" What will I do if this happens next? Keep asking what you'll do next, how you'll continue moving forward. This will move you from a fearful, stuck mindset into a more active, productive mindset.
5. Accept that not everyone will have your back.
This may be the hardest lesson to learn. I found out, most painfully, that some people kept their distance; or better yet, were willing to take advantage and kick me when I was down.
Surprisingly, these are often people you thought you could count on the most. Still, others will not only step up, but they will hold you up through the worst of it.
6. Change your perspective.
I now choose to believe that adversity is meant to knock us on course, not the other way round. Focus on looking at the situation differently. I can say from my experience as a cancer patient, you often have to find humor in the small things. This helps get you through each day.
7. Look forward to the sunshine.
After every storm there is calm, and then the sun shines. If you keep remembering that, you will make it through.
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