It has been a few weeks since I have written but we have been going and going. We spent nearly two weeks in Tunica MS with my son competing in Cowboy Mounted Shooting and experienced the highs and lows of competition.  He set a world record and did awesome in preliminaries the first day. Then pulled out his horse to find her limping and unable to compete the remainder of the competition. Don’t we find ourselves in that situation regularly? We are great teachers one day and fall short the next? We all need that back up horse and support system to get us through those tough days.

Here are 14 ways to help you through the tough days.

1. Acknowledge and feel your feelings. – Don’t try to cover up the feelings. Acknowledge them. Write them down. Don’t bury them under the rug. That will only make you resentful and ready to explode.
2. Talk about it. – Visit our Facebook page and share your thoughts and feelings. We are here to work together.
3. Try to see past the hardship. – Find the positive.  That is easier said than done. I know being laid off was devastating but if I would not have received the pink slip, I wouldn’t be enjoying my new life as a business owner and trainer.
4. Prioritize self-care.  – We as mothers and caregivers have a hard time with this one. How many of us put everyone else before our needs? If we are not healthy, we can’t help others. Take care of yourself. I found myself tired all the time and cranky when someone reached out a helping hand and introduced me to a regimen that breathed new energy into my life.  Ask me about it if you are interested. (stephwilk@live.com)
5. Consider if you’re experiencing a catastrophe or an inconvenience. – Are you catastrophizing it? Is it really that bad or just a setback or inconvenient? I tend to catastrophize little things that are merely inconveniences. Nobody was going to die if I didn’t get something done but I make it to be something huge.  Prioritize – is it really going to make a big difference in the scheme of things? The longer I live and the more people I lose, the more I realize most things really don’t matter.
6. Practice acceptance. – Let go.  This is my biggest challenge. I am a control freak and always have been. I think everything is my fight and my problem.  Guess what – it isn’t. Not everything is your responsibility. Let people be accountable for their own actions and situations. Make a list of what you can control – address those and leave the others for God. Meditate and pray about the things you have no control over and accept life as it is. Play the hand you are dealt and make the best of it.
7. Ask for help. – Sometimes we have to let go and ask for help. Another thing that is very difficult for me. I don’t want to be weak or needy so I tend to stack things on top of myself. Guess what, that Jinga stack comes crashing down when you keep pulling out blocks. People need each other and that is not a weakness. That is the way God made us.
8. Limit time with toxic people. – Find your tribe and surround yourself with like minded people. Misery loves company so remove yourself from it so you don’t woller in it.
9. Stay grounded in the present. – Be mindful.  Click here are some exercises to help you with this .
10. Call an end to the crisis. – Acknowledge what you are going through but remove yourself from crisis mode. Accept the facts and move on.
11. Observe the situation as an outsider. – Take a look at your situation through the eyes of someone else. Is it really as bad as it seems? How would they fix it or deal with it?
12. Just take action. – Don’t just sit there and woller in your pain and suffering. Do SOMETHING/ANYTHING. Jot down some solutions, make some phone calls, do some research.
13. Remember that you are not your difficult time. – Don’t let your difficult time define you. You are not that uncontrollable child. You are simply the caretaker that needs to figure out how to reach that child. That ungrateful boss does not define your life. You can learn to effectively deal with the boss. Find the good in your job or move on to something better. Do not be trapped in your difficult situation.
14. Remember that everyone heals differently. – Not everyone can jump up and be okay quickly. Everyone has their own timeline. Don’t be judgmental of others suffering and give yourself what time you need to heal or overcome your difficult situation.

For more information go to:

Therapists Spill: 14 Ways to Get Through Tough Times

 

 

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Here are some scriptures to help you through difficult times as well.

 

• Isaiah 41:10: Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
• Psalm 9:9-10: The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.
• Psalm 145:9: The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.
• John 16:33: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
• Philippians 4:6-7: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
• Philippians 4:13: For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

 

Let me help you succeed, let me take care of your pre-service and annual training needs. I offer quick and affordable training for both new and current employees. Send me an email at stephwilk@live.com if you have any questions or click here to get started today.

Let’s move mountains together —

Steph

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