Overcoming Obstacles When Faced With Adversity

Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength. - Arnold Schwarzenegger

At some point or the other, we’ve all faced hardships. People struggle with financial issues, health complications, relationship problems, etc. No matter how many times they fall, some people are born with the courage to get up, dust themselves and run again. The difference between those that get through an adverse situation and those that aren’t able to is the mindset.

If you are going through a tough time, here are some tips on how to cope:

Work on your reaction - 

While we can’t stop something from happening, how we respond to that situation can be controlled. Don’t panic pf something bad happens or don’t let anything negative cloud your judgment. Take a deep breath and work on an exit plan. How can you handle it without making it worse and with minimum damage? The more time you spend worrying, the more out of hand the situation can get.

Be positive -

Surround yourself with positive people and thoughts. This will keep you from shutting yourself in. Read books that help you think positive thoughts. Listen to podcasts that can shed some light on what you are facing and how to deal with it. Positive influences help raise your spirits and elevate your mood by increasing the production of feel-good hormones. Avoid stress since it can lead to health issues!

Embrace the situation -

Accept what happened and move on. Instead of harping on the problem, work towards the solution. The moment you realize the problem and accept it, you will be able to focus on finding a solution. Don’t live in denial and wait for the problem to get worse. Even if you need help, getting it on time is important.

Increase your mental strength -

Indulge in some mental exercises and strength-building daily. It’s in the face of adversity that you would need your strength. Meditation, journaling, mental math problems are some of the ways to keep your brain active and stress-free. Focus on your mental health and willpower.

Ask for help -

There is no shame in asking others for support. Open up to your friends and family and seek help. You don’t need to face everything alone. Share your concerns and problems with people you trust. That’s what they are there for. They might not be able to solve the problem for you but they can provide great emotional support.

Ultimately, learn from the adversity and move on. You are going to make mistakes along the way but the more important part is to learn from your mistakes and come out better. Don’t let a situation define you.

Obstacles are a part of life, and the sooner we discover how to deal with them, the better we can learn and carry on with life. Remember, we can’t control what happens to us but we can control our reaction to it. Maintaining a positive attitude will take you a long way. Tough times never last but tough people do!