As humans, we don’t always want to face our difficulties in life. We’d rather put our head in the sand and hope that they will disappear on their own.
“The best way out is always through” – Robert Frost
It doesn’t feel like that when you’re in the middle of a crisis.
This is especially frustrating when it’s a recurring theme because you’re struggling with the same things over and over.
But it’s true…
The best way to deal with difficulties in life is to face them head-on.
When you’re in denial or stuck in self-pity, your struggles will actually last longer.
When you’re constantly asking yourself why this is happening to you, you can’t see the solutions that are right in front of you.
So how can you overcome your difficulties in life?
You can’t make your challenge go away by ignoring it.
And you also can’t wiggle yourself out of it or try to find a way around it.
You’re really just wasting your time and energy…
It’s important to objectively assess the situation and think about what you can do about it
- Why does this feel like a challenge?
- Can I be successful at overcoming this challenge?
- What does it look like if I succeed?
- What is the worst that can happen ?
When you accept your situation as it is, it’s easier to cope.
Focus on what you can control and let go of the rest.
It’s a great way to relieve your pain and frustration.
Often it’s the potential (bad) outcomes that stress you more than anything.
So shift your focus to the thing you’re doing. Don’t think so much about the result. That will make it much less intimidating.
I mentioned it several times on this blog already: Process (and progress) are more important than an arbitrary end result.
Give yourself credit for how you’re handling things, even if you’re not completely there yet.
Next time you face difficulties in life, try to imagine it like your own (battle) field you have to cross no matter what.
The fastest way out is through. No meandering, backtracking, or stopping.
The quicker you deal with your challenge, the sooner it stops being a problem.
Now, this doesn’t mean you should dive in head first and just blindly run through the field.
But it can actually be less painful if you find the courage to face your challenge instead of trying to avoid it.
Besides, challenges allow you to grow.
They show you how strong and resilient you really are.
And if you don’t see them as these huge, horrible difficulties in life that can’t be overcome, maybe you’ll rise to the challenge faster.
Why not give it a try?
And above all, be compassionate with yourself.
It’s normal to fail from time to time. That’s how you learn how to deal with things…
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