Embracing Resilience: Adjusting Your Mindset During Tough Times

Since my last entry, things have changed yet again. My Jeep has since been recovered (you'd think this would be a good thing but I am learning it very much is not), just two days before a settlement was to be made. It has been a wild ride since and one I don't wish anyone to have to go through. However, with tough times come lessons and though they sometimes are extremely hard to see (and better yet understand) in time they reveal themselves. In the journey of life, we all encounter challenging moments that test our strength and resilience. Whether its dealing with a personal loss, facing a setback at work, or navigating through a global crisis. Our mindset plays a crucial role in how we weather the storm. Instead of letting adversity consume us, it's essential to shift our perspective and embrace a mindset that fosters growth and positivity.

When going through tough times, it's natural to experience a range of emotions such as fear, sadness, and frustration. However, by acknowledging these feelings and allowing ourselves to process them, we can gradually move towards a more positive mindset. Practicing self-compassion and being kind to ourselves during difficult times can help us build resilience and bounce back stronger than before.

Adjusting our mindset involves reframing challenges as opportunities for growth and learning. Rather than focusing on the obstacles in our path, we can choose to see them as stepping stones towards personal development and self-improvement. By cultivating a mindset of gratitude, resilience and optimism, we empower ourselves to overcome adversity and emerge stronger on the other side.

I speak from first hand knowledge that this isn't an easy road and somedays are better than others and somedays I am more successful at it than others. There are a few things that have helped me along the way though:

1. Create a daily gratitude practice and don't just list things but list things you feel truly grateful for (you know that feeling of pure and utter love- you need to feel it to truly be grateful for it).

2. Catch your negative thoughts, this is easiest for me during meditation and yoga practice, I think because I am mindful during these times. The trick is to acknowledge your thoughts but not take them personally or judge them, its almost like witnessing them and allowing them to pass by like clouds in the sky, you most definitely don't want to sit with them.

3. Realize that your thoughts are just that, thoughts and some are true and many others are not. Many of our thoughts do us a disservice. Realizing that many of our thoughts are untrue allow us to disassociate with them and not take them personally.

4. Be compassionate with yourself, somedays will be much harder than others and that is perfectly ok. I have realized that there are days when things are hard and I am not always prepared to deal with all the emotions that come to the surface, but knowing that there will be better days ahead and truly believing that allows you to push through the hard days.

5. And last but certainly not least, especially if you are in the northern hemisphere right now, get outside or into the light when the sun is shining- it does remarkable things to your mood and mental health. During the winter months it can be so difficult because it is so dark and dreary and that affects us immensely. So get out and even better if you get out and go for a walk because movement also boosts our mood.

Adjusting your mindset during tough times is not about denying the difficulties you face. but rather about approaching them with a sense of resilience and optimism. By embracing challenges as opportunities for growth, practicing self--compassion, and cultivating a positive outlook, you can navigate through tough times with grace and emerge from the storm stronger than ever. Remember, tough times don't last, but tough people do.

As always, with love and light,

Leah