This post is a guide on what to do when life gets you down or everything feels like it’s going wrong.
It has been a week!!
You know that feeling when your heart feels physically heavy? Like it’s weighing on your lungs and making it hard for you to breathe?
That feeling where you haven’t actually done much but you still want to lay down because you just can’t anymore?
Between a parent ending up in the hospital, a grandparent passing away, having to take a new medication to help me along my fertility journey, breaking out in a puzzling rash and feeling too frazzled to maintain my normal routine, it has been a hard WEEK for me.
And I bet it’s been one for you too.
Whether we realize it or not, everyone has a method for coping with hard times.
Some emotionally eat, some try to drown them out with sleep, some turn to alcohol, some isolate themselves and others try to ignore their problems altogether.
The most resilient people, however, have healthy ways of bouncing back when life knocks them down.
The reason why it’s important for you to learn how to pick yourself up in a wholesome way is because life is bound to knock you down.
Not once, Not twice but MULTIPLE TIMES.
And if you keep trying to deal with it using toxic coping mechanisms, you’re going to create more problems for yourself than you had in the first place.
So, today we will talk about 10 very helpful ways to stand strong when your circumstances are trying to crush you.
1. Enjoy the Uplifting Power of Endorphins by Exercising
Don’t click away! I know it’s probably the last thing you want to hear….
I know this because it’s so hard for me to even think about exercising when life gets rough.
I’d much rather use tough times as an excuse to double down on being lazy and eating junk food.
But, I wouldn’t be doing you any favors if I didn’t let you know that breaking a sweat releases happy hormones and helps you think clearer (so that you can actually figure out your problems).
It’s especially powerful if you can get outside so that you can absorb the Vitamin D and the healing power of the outdoors at the same time.
HERE’S THE THING!!
“Exercising” in this case doesn’t have to mean running, going to the gym or something strict.
Whether it be dancing, playing with your kids by chasing them around or mowing the lawn, it will help you to get moving (even when you don’t want to).
2. Spend Time with People You Love
When life knocks you down, get around your favorite people. The ones that inevitably make you smile, laugh and feel motivated.
It really is true what they say- birds of a feather really do flock together. So when you get around encouraging people, some of that encouragement is bound to rub off on you.
3. Encourage Yourself with “When Life Gets You Down” Quotes
Speaking of encouragement, the reason we love inspirational quotes is because you can stuff a big, complex idea into a bite-size, witty and easily digestible saying.
Quotes can serve as mantras, meaning that you can repeat them, meditate on them and allow them to transform your attitude. You can also display them in your home as inspirational wall art, turn them into encouraging affirmations and even adopt them as personal slogans.
Quotes are extremely flexible & useful.
4. Evaluate Your Thought Life and Self-Talk
When bad things happen over and over again, it’s common for us to start internalizing all that disappointment and pain.
You might find yourself thinking things like “I always mess up”, “I don’t deserve nice things”, “Bad things always happen to me” & “I’m not good at anything”.
That is called negative self talk, and it’s a self-defeating mindset that needs to be addressed immediately.
Your mindset affects everything that you do. It affects the quality of your life and your happiness.
So, when bad things happen, guard your thoughts ferociously.
In fact, I recommend that you become a part of my e-mail family for weekly tips & resources on intentional positivity and self-talk.
5. Get Laser-Focused on the Things You’re Grateful For
Gratitude is the perfect motivation for when life gets you down. It’s the ideal attitude-adjuster.
Taking the time to identify the little and big joys of your life will bring you perspective and help you to realize that life is bigger than whatever is going wrong in this moment. With that realization comes hope.
So, when everything feels like it’s going south, make yourself a gratitude list.
6. Protect Yourself Against Bitterness
Anger and resentment are heavy. And when you carry them around, they become bitterness.
Bitterness isn’t attractive. Not only will you feel miserable, others will feel miserable being around you as well.
Prevent bitterness by dealing with disappointments as they come; don’t allow them to build up or linger.
7. Don’t Get Stuck in a Victim Mentality
When life beats you down, you can choose to feel helpless.
Or, you can realize that there is always something you can do about your circumstances, even if it’s simply adjusting your attitude.
A victim mentality strips you of your strength. Of your power.
Choose to be a champion by adjusting your mindset instead.
8. Pray and Seek God’s Will for Your Situation
So, how do you stay strong when life gets hard?
Find your strength in the Lord.
Knowing that God knows everything before it happens should encourage you. Also- praying for His will and discernment will keep you from making emotional decisions and taking hasty actions.
And even if you are so stuck that you don’t know what to say when you pray, remember Romans 8:26-
“…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans”.
Related : “The Joy of the Lord is my Strength” – Uplifting Nehemiah 8:10 Coloring Page
9. Remind Yourself This Is Just a Season That Will Pass
“Today is not forever”.
“This too shall pass”.
“There is a time for everything”.
Whenever life gets you down, use sayings like these to remind yourself that bad times are temporary.
10. Remember That Fire Refines Gold (and Pressure Forms Diamonds)
When life gets troublesome, allow it to shape you in a good way.
Trust me, I’m not one of those “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” people. I’m not a fan of that quote because sometimes the things that don’t kill you still damage you.
One of the quotes that I prefer for troubled times is “You have been assigned this mountain so that you can show others it can be moved” (Mel Robbins). It reminds me that growth and inspiration rarely come from comfortable times.
To truly “bounce back”, it is important to find meaning and personal growth in difficult times.
(Self discovery journaling can help with this).
What Lifts Your Spirits When Life Gets You Down?
Now I want to hear from you.
Think about the last terrible thing that happened to you. Your last worst day…
What helps you turn the corner and find hope when life lets you down?
I’d love to hear from you so comment below.
Matthew Bryant says
Hey DEZE! I love most or all of these things. I use exercise as a main motivation to get through my hard times. If I can’t sleep in the middle of the night I go to an early morning workout. To process some hard things at work this week I went to work out and use that time also to invite God into it. I also like to use affirmations. You can read about that in my blog post coming out on Monday 🙂 Thanks for sharing. I appreciate you!
Deze says
Exercise is an EXCELLENT and productive way to deal with whatever life throws your way! Keep it up Matt