How you deal with challenges matters, no matter how big or small. You will encounter some difficulties and unexpectedly negative situations as you go through your day today. Sometimes it’s a blip on the radar. Other times may find you facing one obstacle after another.
But here’s the thing, your attitude can affect the outcome of these issues. I am going to share some strategic ways you can deal with challenges. You don’t have to sit idly by as life throws your curveballs. These tips can help you to actually catch a few.
This too shall pass
It can be hard to look at the big picture when you’re in the middle of a crisis. Some years ago, I found myself living in a hotel room and it was stressful without question. However, almost every hardship is temporary. This difficult time will end, and you’ll move past it. It’s why I talk about goals because it helps you maintain focus. When you hit frustration, this can help you think more clearly as you work to overcome your current obstacle. You’ll be far better able to think critically and productively if you’re able to be optimistic about the future.
Try to Assess Things Rationally
Emotions can run on high during a challenge, and these feelings are usually of the negative kind. You may experience emotions like fear, anger, sadness, and resentment as you try to rebuild your life or manage a crisis. While these feelings are perfectly normal, they’re also counterproductive to finding solutions. I am a huge fan of feeling your emotions because they provide clues but it’s easy to get stuck in negative emotions. When this happens, you’ll generally find yourself reacting blindly rather than making proactive decisions. Make an effort to remove the emotions from your decision-making, and you’ll soon see your progress shift in a more positive direction.
Remove Yourself from the Equation
I don’t think it’s a good idea to suppress your negative emotions because again, I think they are important to help you identify what you want and don’t want. But you may wish to remove yourself from the equation. What I mean by this is to try not to take it all personally and don’t ask why. Sure you can probably find all the logical reasons for why something is going down, but in a situation where the why is beyond your control. When we ask, “Why me?” Or get caught in a never-ending loop of trying to figure out what we’ve done wrong, moving forward becomes impossible.
Find the gratitude within yourself
Experiencing hardships bring value to your life. They show you how strong and resilient you are. Deal with challenges allows you to bring an opportunity for change with them. It can also be transformative and exciting. Embrace any potential for the positive transformation you might find during the tough times, and you’ll feel more motivated to push past them. And in each moment there is *something* to be grateful for. For instance, when I was living in a hotel room, I was grateful for the job I had because I knew it would help me move forward. I was grateful for my family and my ability to stay focused on my vision.
You can get my gratitude journal here to help you shift your mindset.
These are a few strategies I’ve found helpful when dealing with life’s challenges. Give them a try, and you may find yourself more in control of your situation than you realized you could be.
