10 Life Lessons For Coping With Difficult Times

Coping strategies vary from person to person, and while these tips may not totally resolve the difficulties one might be experiencing, maintaining hope and faith are critical to coping. Hope and faith are also important to the will to survive. How one copes also impacts one state of wellness and health.

There’s a long-held belief that everything is relative. When we challenge that notion and find gratitude and acknowledgment for all of our good fortune, we can begin to trust things are temporary and will improve. Coping with both small and giant life challenges is a universal thing and the need to be able to do so effectively will never go away. Try these 10 tips while you’re struggling, and reflect on the difference in how you feel. It may become your new way of normal. There’s nothing to lose, and much to potentially gain. Anxiety is a part of life, but we can minimize the degree to which we feel it.

You’re better off than you think since most in the world have far less than you’ve ever had.
Try taking stock of what you have – whether that’s in material possessions, food, money, education, creative talents, or personal qualities; doing so can be uplifting and effective medicine for feeling down.

Make do with what you have. If your wardrobe is looking a bit old and tired, you don’t really need to buy the latest fashions to freshen it up. Update your outfits by changing how you accessorize what you do own. Go to a thrift store or swap clothing with friends. The exchanged accessories will be new to each of you. Embracing a more minimalistic attitude helps beyond measure. Adopt the mantra, ‘less is more’ and you may even begin to feel pretty terrific about deciding you don’t need more, and actually have more than enough.

If you need to go to a food pantry, go; pride is the enemy of hunger. If you have enough to eat, consider organizing a neighborhood food drive and collect food staples and donating them to a food pantry.

Consider giving back to your community by volunteering your time at an agency, hospital, animal shelter, senior home, etc. Helping others is another way to uplift oneself from feeling low.

Always live within your own means and not those of others. Never overextend your debt or create new debt for yourself unless you know you’ll be able to pay it off. Unless something is a matter of life or death, chances are you don’t need it, so move on and away from the urge to splurge.

If you really need money and have limited liquid resources, consider selling some of your possessions, even if you have to sell them at a considerable loss of their value. If we’re lucky, we have things we don’t need or use, and would certainly benefit more from the cash selling them would provide.

Admit it when you’re experiencing problems that seem to be overwhelming you. Be honest, even if it hurts. Don’t suffer in silence. Seek counseling from a family member, or friend, or go to a free clinic, a house of worship, etc. Pride can compromise your health.

Enjoy the simpler things in life – nature, laughter, happiness, your five senses and relatively good health. Consider re-reading a favorite book. Take a leisurely bath. Go for long walks. Identifying people and places that give you a sense of belonging and contentment are key coping choices when life feels hard.

Be spiritual and grateful for what you do have and thank whatever deity you believe in for the blessings you enjoy. Ask for courage and strength to cope and move forward. Be mindful that even a challenge can be a blessing, since it may create for you an opportunity to become a stronger, more humble person, and rise above a challenge.

You’re not the only one suffering, so don’t allow yourself the indulgence of feeling sorry or having regrets. Only worry about those things you can directly change or influence. Appreciate who you are, where you’ve been, where you’re at, and where you hope to be. Smile!

Terry Herman is a recognized expert in the industry, and regularly covers issues that include business, management, operations, customer care, treatments, products, and trends. In addition to writing and reviewing, she is also a management consultant and motivational speaker. She also serves on the EXPERIENCE PREMCHIT Journeys Retreat To Wellness Advisory Board, which is comprised of ten international experts in various fields of wellness and spa.