We all face challenges. Here’s how to deal with them.
Do you struggle to stay positive when things go wrong?
Do you allow little things to knock you off course?
Don't beat yourself up, it’s normal!
Guaranteed – we will all face challenges. It's a fact. So firstly, accept that. Acceptance is a huge part of living a positive life, and being in control of your emotions.
Positivity is not always our first reaction. No one is positive 100% all of the time, not even me. But it is possible to be more in control of your happiness and positivity when you have a few emotional tools to call on.
I know this because I have built my emotional toolkit and I use it daily. I am now in control of my emotions more than ever. I don’t let others’ thoughts and reactions and my environment push and pull me around like a kite in a hurricane. Trust me this used to happen to me, I was a prickly nightmare!
You might be wondering, how do I do this? How can it help you?
Here are my top tools:
Breathe…. "Oh come on Sam," I hear you say. "Is that all you got?!" Hold up, I don’t mean breathe as in normal I mean take at least five deep breaths. Outside if possible. By doing this you are creating space for the emotion you are currently feeling. When we face a challenge we put ourselves in a position of struggle, suffocating the problem keeping it trapped. Give yourself space to think. Breathing is wonderful. Not only does it keep you alive, it reminds you that you’re alive.
I have faced some pretty tough challenges and I'm still here to tell the tale. You will be too. What I have found is that 99% of stuff is fixable. I tell myself, “I can handle it” because I have in the past and nothing stays the same, everything evolves. Think about it. Ever had your heart broken? It fricking hurt, right? You felt your world had ended and you were always going to feel this way. But of course you moved on, the hurt eased. You can only connect the dots by looking back and learning.
Every challenge you face is an opportunity for growth. We all learn from difficulties, what we would or wouldn't do next time. It makes us more courageous and wiser, growing and hopefully becoming a better person. So remind yourself of that. Tell yourself, “This isn’t going to last, it will pass and better still I'll be a better person for it.”
Be solution focussed. Look for ways to solve whatever problem your facing. Can you change it? If you can’t, you’ve got to let it go. Stop focussing on stuff that you can’t control.
Practise the art of Gratitude. This is my favourite tip and something I do twice daily. It’s had a massive impact on my life and can on yours. I have this morning routine that ensures I start everyday on a positive. Find the PDF on my website. Think of three things you're grateful for when you wake up and go to bed, write them down to reinforce it. This focuses your mind on the positives in your life. Keep them simple to start – I'm grateful for my bed, toothpaste, breathing!
Lastly always remember that you have a choice, you choose your reaction. It’s absolutely 100% completely your choice – negative or positive? Get to recognise when you’re choosing negative, ask yourself why, accept it – then try spinning the positive, and move forward.
You can find out more about Sam and her services as a happiness and success mentor and speaker at samadamsinspires.com. You can also follow her on Instagram @saminspires.
She is hosting a one-day Creating Daily Happiness & Positivity event in Brighton on 18 November. For earlybird ticket offers check out samadamsinspires.com/events.
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