How to Get Through Hard Times: The Shift You Need to Make
Last Updated on May 7, 2024
I want you to think of something you’re anxious about right now. If I had to bet, part of the anxiety comes from the lack of control you have over the situation.
When we don’t know the outcome, it’s scary. When no amount of effort can guarantee a certain outcome, we feel helpless.
But instead of being consumed by all the factors you can’t control, let’s lean into the things you can control.
If you are in need of this reminder, be sure to pin that photo to save for later!!
Sure, you can’t control the past, the future, or what happens around you. But you can control habits that improve your quality of life, how you handle the stress, and what you give your energy to. Lean into these!
It’s the idea that you shouldn’t try to calm the storm. You calm yourself. Because the storm will always pass.
Mindset Shift: Acceptance Is The Only Way to Have Power in a Powerless Situation
I didn’t figure this out until my early 20s, but the only thing we truly have in our toolbox during hard times is acceptance. You can push and fight the discomfort, let it seep into your mindset, and deeply upset you OR you can learn to accept the situation without judgment.
And I get it, hard things ARE hard. Bad times DO suck, don’t get me wrong. Acceptance does not mean we approve or agree with the situation, just that we’ve chosen not to give our precious energy to something we cannot fix.
READ: 30 Day Mental Wellness Challenge For Serious Self-Improvement
Shifting toward an acceptance mindset will ease your suffering, increase your stress tolerance, and overall help you live a happier life! Because the truth is that the stress will always happen. Instead of wasting your energy on fighting the stress, use it to strengthen yourself.
Now, how exactly do we do this?
What To Do to Get Through Hard Times
- Remember that everything is figure-out-able. This is something I have to remind myself of ALL the time. You know all the little things that can feel so big that they ruin our day? Your insurance not covering that new medication, your check engine light coming on, someone making your day harder. All of these things have this in common: you WILL figure them out AND they will eventually be behind you.
- Literally releasing what is not in your control – visualization practices work so much better than people give them credit for. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths. On each exhale, imagine yourself literally breathing out (“releasing”) your stress. This will make you feel at least a little bit lighter, I swear!
- Brain dumping to declutter your mind – this is an underrated activity that also makes a huuuge difference. Follow the brain dump trigger list, grab a journal, and just start writing. Write about everything plaguing your mind. Write about how pissed off or defeated you feel. Keep writing until there’s nothing left to say. (Or, a great alternative is to speak out loud and record a voice memo using this same idea).
Take control of your anxiety for good with the #1 most effective step-by-step guide!
Struggling with anxious thoughts? Feel stuck in fight-or-flight? Just want to get better at managing life’s daily stressors? (Hey, you’re not alone!) This journal is for you.
By the end of this journal, you’ll…
I highly suggest taking a look at my printable anxiety journal featured above. Or, if you want to take it one step further and really tackle all aspects of your mental health and healing journey, check out my ultimate bundle: Your Roadmap to Healing. It includes 5 effective tools to help you feel calmer, happier, and accelerate the healing process!
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