Life isn’t all about the good stuff.
We will have our fair share of bad days and difficult moments–a relationship falling out, a severe illness, death, retrenchment. Such life occurrences are sometimes hard to accept, and can drag you down. There is the tendency to mope around, fall into depression, and live without vigor or purpose. If not handled well, it can affect other aspects of your life.
How you will handle and manage the situation when the tough gets going is a reflection of your character. Here are five tips that can help you face and overcome difficult situations better.
1. Practice gratitude over attitude
Stressful situations can bring out the worst in us, especially when we are at the peak of our emotions.
We go on an attack mode that we oftentimes take for granted those that are around us. We tend to overlook the smallest of the good things, especially when it comes to our family as they are with us most of the time. In resolving issues within the household, it is better to look at the good and be grateful about it. After all, your family is at the core of your being.
When arguing with your partner or spouse, shift the focus from yourself to him/her. Look at the situation from his/her perspective, and try to understand where he/she is coming from. Fighting over something petty? Check on his/her intent. Do not allow the small things to blow into something huge.
If issues concern your children, be wary of speaking in the negative. Your choice of words and the tone of your voice can influence the situation. Negative can spur out more negative, while shouting will just encourage louder voices.
2. Breathe in, breathe out
Anxiety stems from losing control.
You probably feel more restless when you are handling more than the responsibilities you can manage. Say you have your career and, at the same time, you are taking graduate studies. There are days when workload in both areas conflict or overlap, and you feel inconvenienced.
Let go of the agitation by relaxing. Take a deep breathe in, and breathe out. Once the anxiety dies down, you end up with a clearer mind, and can tackle the problem better. If the workload of both your job and studies is too much to handle all at once, you can prioritize, and set a schedule for your tasks. A relaxed mindset enables you to focus on what is needed of you in the situation.
There is also no shame in asking for help. When you feel overwhelmed with the workload at the office, you can ask assistance from your colleagues. When you are in rut with your graduate studies scholastic requirements, you can tap the help of professionals like EduGeeksClub to help you in your academic pursuits.
3. Step back and analyze
An effect of stressful situations is overly-sensitive and high emotions.
When we let it rule over us in difficult situations, we might just find ourselves deeper into the problem, thereby creating more stress. The best option is to calm down a bit, detach yourself from anger or frustration, and be more logical.
Evaluate the situation by looking at it from the big picture perspective. Take relationship issues for instance. Oftentimes, arguments come from miscommunication over simple stuff. Is the cause of the argument a big deal? Will it matter years from now? If you think it’s not worth so much time and energy, let it go.
For matters that are more significant, talk it out. Find a solution, be part of the solution, and do not dwell on the problem. Compromise is also important for such situation. Find a middle ground that both of you are comfortable with.
4. Accept that life is unfair
Let’s put this fact right here because it is a universal truth.
No matter how much we would like to think otherwise, life is not fair. We can’t have everything according to what we will. Ideally, anyone would want a career life that is balanced with your personal and social life.
You picture yourself climbing up the corporate ladder smoothly. But reality check–there will always be horrible bosses, difficult colleagues, or office drama that are going to set you back professionally at one point, regardless of the industry you are in.
The first step would be to accept that it is what it is. Do not allow yourself to be affected too much of the drama. As much as possible, keep your head focused in your tasks. Work, and work well. If needed, learn how to say no graciously but firmly.
5. Keep in mind that the choice is yours
Do not frustrate and stress yourself further by trying to control of the uncontrollable.
You only have command over yourself, and not of others. Reframe the situation with your mind set on solutions that you can personally do. How did I react to the situation? What can I do to change the scenario positively? The way we react to a difficult situation is our own, and we can influence its turn out with the choices we make.
You can lessen the negativity of the situation by imbibing positivity.
Personal success author Brian Tracy advises to speak to yourself in a positive way, such as saying, “I feel healthy! I feel happy! I feel terrific!” He further explains, “According to the law of expression, whatever is expressed is impressed. Whatever you say to yourself or others is impressed deeply into your subconscious mind and is likely to become a permanent part of your personality.”
If you feel pressured by societal expectations, drop the self-pity. Avoid comparisons, too, because it can just aggravate the negativity. Be forgiving, of yourself and others. Set your own pace and definition of personal success; it is your life after all.
Truly, the key to handling difficult situations is the realization that we can always take control of the situation. A simple reframing of your mindset can do wonders to ease a stressful scenario. Always choose to be a positive thinker, solution seeker, and active doer.
As George Bernard Shaw quotes, “People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.”
If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it with your friends and family. After all, sharing is caring!
Author: Naomi Binford
Naomi Binford is a writer from New York City. She loves gathering tidbits of information on random subjects that fascinate her and sharing those with her readers online. You can connect with her via Twitter @NaomiBinford.
