How to stay hopeful, strong and happy during difficult times
The ultimate purpose of our lives is to be HAPPY! However, given the unpredictable times that we live in, especially the current state of the world, coupled with the stress of our day-to-day living — for many — the very term ‘happy’ seems like a far-fetched notion.
It is hard not to feel weighed down by our emotions and maintain any sense of positivity in times of crisis — be it global or personal. But the good news is: Even when we are flooded with conflicting emotions and burdened with anxiety, there are a ton of proactive actions that we can take, which will help us stay strong and cope with the stormy phase of our lives. Here, we have gathered some expert tips that will help you to better adapt to life-changing events, build resilience, remain hopeful and stay happy during turbulent times. Read on…
Spend Time In Positive Company
One of the simplest solutions to uplift your mood and feel a burst of positivity is to surround yourself with cheerful people. If you have toxic people around you, especially during trying times, it is likely that you will end up feeling worse than before. So, avoid toxic and negative people and spend time in the company of those who have a positive outlook towards life. It will uplift your mood and help you better handle your situation.
Connect With Nature
Nothing heals, soothes and recharges your soul better than nature. Step out, soak up the sun, breathe in the fresh air, take a twenty-minute walk through the woods, sit by the sea - listen to the waves, take a stroll in the park — simply connect with nature and let it do its magic. Studies have proven that spending time in nature gives a boost to your mental well-being and helps you to stay positive.
Set Goals
Sometimes some situations can be extremely daunting and, in such circumstances, setting small short-term goals can do wonders for your emotional well-being. It will make you more resilient and will give you something positive to focus your energies on.
Nurture Yourself
Leading a healthy lifestyle is the key to your emotional well-being as well as building resilience. Taking care of your body and nurturing yourself helps you to better deal with all the physical and emotional challenges thrown your way. Proper nutrition, getting enough sleep, a regular exercise routine can do wonders not just for your physical but emotional health too. For example, when you exercise regularly your body releases powerful happy hormones called endorphins that help you improve your mood and reduces the toll of stress and depression. Getting adequate sleep is also an essential factor to promote positivity in your life. When you are sleeping, your mind and body get recharged. A good amount of sleep gives you enough resilience to bounce back deal with your problems. When you are rested well, you can think clearly, perform better at work and have a good ability to take charge of your emotional upheaval.
Limit Your Social Media Consumption
Social media has become as much a part of our daily routine as consuming our meals. While it is an excellent medium to stay updated with what’s happening around and staying connected with friends and family, one can’t deny that it is also filled with negativity. Hence limiting your social media consumptions can help you deal with your crisis better.
Practice Gratitude
Motivational speaker and author Amy Collette writes in her book – The Gratitude Connection – “Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness. It’s the spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul.” And when it comes to dealing with difficult times, this couldn’t be more true! When you are going through a bad phase in life, finding something to feel grateful about can help immensely to amp up your positivity. Even when you think your world is crumbling down, it is possible to find at least one thing to be grateful about. For instance, the unconditional love of your furry friend, or a beautiful sunset, a hearty meal, a caring partner or a supportive friend — shifting your focus on what you have instead of what you don’t, helps you to not only appreciate the goodness in your life but also get respite from your stress. The simplest trick to do so is to think of something good you have or one good happening from the day before you go to bed. Practising gratitude daily will do you a whole lot of good than you can imagine, so go ahead try it.
Reignite Your Passion
Often in our persistent endeavour to chase our career dreams, we lose our spark. In turbulent times, when we are overwhelmed with emotions and feeling hopeless, taking time out to reignite our passion is actually a must. Indulging in activities that nourish our spirit help bring meaning and purpose to our lives. Be it writing, dancing, singing, playing a sport — whatever your passion is, go after it — it will make you more hopeful and will certainly help you better cope with your troublesome situation.
Be Kind And Help Others
While we all have heard that a simple act of kindness can make the world a better place, kindness can also benefit your mental well-being immensely, especially when you are in the midst of a difficult phase in life. It is natural to feel helpless when you are dealing with a crisis but proactively helping others will not only make a difference to society but will also make you feel good and help you find a purpose in life. Small acts of kindness like helping your neighbour run an errand, extending a helping hand to the needy, volunteering, doing charity or getting involved in any cause that you believe in will help spread positivity and uplift your mood too.
Practice Acceptance
Lastly, what is truly important to keep happy, resilient and hopeful during a tough phase is to accept the situation. Living in denial won’t help your situation any better, rather it stops you from finding a solution to your situation. Remember you can’t always control everything in your life and worrying about it constantly will further damage your mental health.
Photos: istockphoto
