Our character is shaped when we go through adversity and how we handle the obstacles that come our way. Each hurdle is an opportunity to rise back up, stronger and wiser than we were before. Falling down is an essential part of the process. How do we grow and learn the lessons we need to learn if we don’t fall down?
What defines us is how well we rise after falling. When we feel overwhelmed, beat down and discouraged it can feel like we don’t even want to try anymore. It’s okay to have those feelings. Feel them, but then let them go. Then take action, by rising to the challenge and welcoming adversity.
Here are some things to remember when you feel like giving up:
1.) Take a shower and get ready for the day. I know this sounds crazy and super basic. But we have a tendency when we feel stress to not take time for ourselves and meet our basic needs. By getting clean and getting ready for the day, you physically put yourself in a better place to handle things mentally. Therapists actually set goals with their clients to shower by a set time every day when they are battling depression. It works.
2.) Know that if you are struggling in your relationships or at a job, it doesn’t mean you are doing things wrong. When we put forth effort to do things right, we are going to have failures and things happen that we didn’t expect, and it’s okay. It’s experience and it means that we are actually trying – which is more than many people are willing to do.
3.) Hydrate, eat well and get moving. Again, this goes back to physically taking care of our bodies. And it is hard when you are stressed, upset or sad. But doing these little things go a long way in helping you mentally reframe your mind to handle adversity.
4.) Stay in the present. What makes failure feel insurmountable is piling on past failures and worrying about failing in the future. If we can stay in the present and deal with what is happening today, we can find ourselves feeling more powerful and capable.
5.) Be intentional. Know in your soul what you want your outcome to be. Know your “why”. Tell yourself that you are going to do X and that sometimes you are going to fail along the way. But it doesn’t matter, because you are going to get right back up and try again. And again. Until you get to where you want to be.
6.) Give yourself a reality check. Think back to past struggles. So far you have survived 100% of them and you are going to get through this, too.
7.) Breath fresh air. Get into nature and just breath. In Max Ehrmann’s poem Desiderata, he says, “…be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.” Take in the beauty of our world and know in your soul that you have a purpose here. You belong here and there is something valuable you can give this world that it desperately needs. Don’t give up.
Video for failure is not falling down. It’s refusing to get back up.
