THE OBSERVATORY - ENTRY # 0012: OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

By MRAM
July 25, 2009

We’ve all been there.

We’re happy, everything is great. We have wonderful friends, family and enjoying all that life has to offer.

And then one day...BAM!

Something suddenly hits you hard. Whether it be a breakup, the death of a loved one, a job termination, or even a mix of a number of little things. The joy, euphoria, and everyday wellness you felt before is destroyed in a matter of seconds. Your normal train of thought and simple day to day routines have unfortunately been derailed.

Some people are able to bounce back more quickly than others. They know what they have to do to get on with life. They don’t question the world or necessarily agree with its actions; they just gather up their feelings and move forward.

Other people need more time to heal and often find it difficult to do so. To them, life is an unfair craphole with no consideration for their or anyone else’s feelings. That might be a bit much, but everyone sees things differently. We can’t all carry around rose colored glasses in hard times.

For those of you in the latter, here are a few things you can do to help pick you up a bit. Though challenging as it is to overcome obstacles, it is what has to be done to get through life.

1. Remember the good – When you’re constantly down on yourself, you set yourself up for failure and disappointment. Picking out the best moments from the past instead of the over-analyzing the present situation will help you see things more positively.

2. The facts – When dark skies are overhead, your views become fogged. Instead of thinking about “what” just happened, think about “why.” If you understand why, you might be able to move forward quicker.

3. Find a friend – It’s hard to bounce back if you’re alone. After the first few days of sulking, it’s time to give yourself a much needed break. Find a friend or family member who can help take your mind off things. You can go watch a movie, grab some ice cream, or even stay home and play some video games. You’re still mourning over your personal problem, but at least you’ll have one occasion to smile over.

4. Don’t put your life on hold – Don’t wait for your hopes and dreams to magically come true. Even though you feel life has cheated you out of something doesn't mean you have an excuse for not living up to your potential.

5. Learn from experiences – You may not know this when going through depressing times, but whatever doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger. Negative events become positive lessons that will help you deal with the future. Your personality grows and you learn to find happiness within yourself.