Life is often unpredictable, crazy, and hard. Let's be honest, we've all had a bad day or even week in our lives. No one is free from ever having a life that is just happy all the time. However, we believe that these trying times are what shapes us into the amazing human beings we are today.
Why is that, you may ask? Well, there is no light without darkness. And there is no true happiness if you haven't experience sadness before. This is why having a hard time doesn't mean that it's the end of the world, it just means that you are experiencing something that will shape you for the next hurdle that you might face.
However, it is always easier said than done. We run into issues and obstacles that sometimes seem so bad that it feels like there is no real way out of it. It could be the loss of a loved one or even some serious financial problems. One of the reasons for high suicide rates is also due to financial reasons. This article is in no way trying to make it seem that serious issues are not big and can cause a lot of people to feel like there is no way out.
In this article, we want to show some of the ways you can adopt to try to stay positive when times get tough and they are particularly trying. Especially after coming out of 2020 -- a year that shook the entire world. There has never been a time that the entire human population having to go through the same issue. It allowed for a lot of empathy but also we saw some really crazy differences with reactions to the pandemic that caused some serious rifts between people.
But, that is not the main issue in discussion today. So let's see what are some of the ways you can stay positive during trying times!
#1: Get Enough Sleep
According to NCBI, when we have a bad night of sleep, our body has a reduced ability to regulate our emotions. This causes us to feel a lot sadder and more depressed than we actually are due to the fact that our emotions are all over the place due to the lack of sleep. This is why the first thing you should always do if you are feeling down suddenly is to go to sleep.
It might be your body's way of telling you that you need to rest for a bit because it's been working too hard or that you just need to switch off for a bit. However, issues with sleep, be it too much or too little sleep is also an indication of depression. So, do keep an eye out on your sleeping habits if there is a dangerous tip to one side.
#2: Stop Victimizing Yourself
When things hit the fan, it can be easy to go into a mindset of "the world is against you" or "why is this happening to me?". This is what we call the victim mindset. It is always easier for you to take the role of the victim compared to being responsible for the issues you are facing. However, doing this will never solve the problem and may also push people away from actually wanting to help you.
Shift your perspective from the victim mindset to a mindset of knowing that you are in control and that there is nothing you cannot do. I know that it is easier said than done but it is much better than being a victim that causes so much bitterness and anger in your life.
#3: Meditate
Meditating is a huge part of internalizing and calming yourself down. Sometimes when things get tough, your mind goes into overdrive and puts itself in a fight or flight manner. This causes high anxiety and a serious amount of stress. This is why whenever you feel the anxiety or stress coming from the tough time you are having right now, take a break and meditate.
You don't have to do advanced meditation, just sit and take a few breaths to calm your mind down. Clear out your mind and listen to your own breathing. This helps your mind slow down and relax which will in turn free up space in your mind to rationally think about your issues and how to solve them.
#4: Focus on The Positives
This might seem like a no-brainer but it must be said. This is where perspective comes to play. No matter how horrible something might seem -- there is a reason for it. There is always a silver lining to any horrible thing happening. Most times, it makes you a much stronger person in the long run. Right now, it might seem dark and depressing but trust us, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Make some time to watch something that will make you laugh or go outside for a walk. Carve out that 5 minutes of happiness in every day so that you can take the time to focus on the positives.
#5: Reach Out To Others
When things seem dire and you feel like there is no more way out -- remember that you have a support system. There are people out there that care about you and want to see you thrive. If not, find people who have experienced the hardships you are going through right now. Talk to them and listen to their stories. This way you know that there is life after a tragedy or a horrible experience.
And if you can't find anyone, know that you can reach out to us by leaving us a comment on our social media or just sending an email asking for help at info@flowcoachinginstitute.com.
We would love to help.