How to Get Through Life’s Challenges

Trust Things Will Get Better

You must believe that you will get through what you are in. This is probably one of the hardest things to do. When life is throwing its worst at you, imagining a time when things will be easier is hard.

But without trusting you can get stuck in victimhood or your emotional pain.

How do you then build trust when you can’t even imagine what it looks like?

I look at trust coming from two places. First in a higher source, whatever that means to you. Having faith in something outside you makes it easier to trust things can get better.

Second, it is also critical to ensure that you have trust in yourself. This does not need to be 100% trust in yourself. Doubt is a natural part of life, especially as we are navigating new territory. Using the trust do you have will help you move forward.

If you struggle with this one, ask yourself:

• What do I trust myself to do today? Trust doesn’t have to come from what you are going through. It can be from a different area of life. Start identifying ways you do trust yourself and build from there.
• List examples of times in the past when you were unsure, but things worked out okay. Remembering old challenges can help you gain the confidence in yourself that things can get better.

Nurture Yourself

Nurturing is about caring for and encouraging someone or something. Unfortunately, during difficult times we don’t always have someone who is nurturing us. So, we must step up and nurture ourselves.

The easiest way to do this is to make sure that self-care is a priority. Doing something every day that renews you and helps you have the energy to keep moving forward.

Consider it your planned break on the way up the hill, where instead of waiting to be rescued you are re-loading your backpack!

Practice Gratitude

Appreciate what you have and where you are. When we are struggling it is easy to get fixated on what we don’t have. Gratitude helps us appreciate the now. Plus, it has been shown to make us happier and change our outlook!

This is the easiest one to apply into your daily life. Either at the start or end of the day, write down at least three things you are grateful for. And be detailed on this with something that is specific to the day. Even if it is small. For example, maybe you are grateful for green lights all the way to work. Or the hug you got from your moody teenager.

Don’t Sacrifice Your Standards

It can be easy to want to settle when things are difficult. You may be tempted to settle for less than you want or deserve. Simply because you are tired of the journey. Or because you start second guessing yourself because of how long it seems to be going.

But settling can create moments of regret later in life. This doesn’t mean you are unwilling to compromise or change direction. But that you are going to stand by your values and desires.

One way that you can do this is to create a list of non-negotiables. The things you refuse to sacrifice. For example, for me integrity is very important. It is one of my non-negotiables. So, when I face difficulties, I will not do anything that breaks my integrity. Even if that makes the journey a bit longer.

Know When to Let Go

Our culture tends to make us believe if we stop going for something that we are weak. That non-stop continued persistence is the only way to go. Yet, this does not consider the fact that we change continually.

What you desire in your 20’s is most likely not going to fit at all with your life in your 40’s. And the time gap does not even need to be that big.

A new path you take in January may end up being not at all what you thought it would be, and by August you are miserable. Do you need to continue?

To help you answer that question, here are journal prompts to help you:

• Do I still want this?
• Are my activities today setting the path for the future that I want?
• Do I feel like I have given it my all? Have I done my best?
• If I look back on this 10 years from now, will I regret anything?
• Have I made any progress?
• Does what I am working towards bring me joy?

Ultimately, the answer to – is it time to let go – leads us back to the very start. You must trust yourself, that you will make the right decision for you at the right time.

Resources to Help You Through Life’s Challenges

Cultivating Trust Meditation – ​Insight Timer​, ​YouTube​, Meditate with Andrea Podcast Episode 50

Gratitude Journaling – Tips & Benefits: Youtube video