Life is not linear. No matter how well-thought-out your plans are, they will eventually be interrupted. Lean into the curves when life doesn’t unfold as you’d hoped, and you will bounce back more quickly.
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1. Mind your language.
Your words create your reality. Describe your situation as a nightmare and you’ll experience just that. Describe it as exciting, and it will shift the emotions you feel and the actions you take. Don’t talk about your problems using dramatic language, but describe your situation in a way that places you in a position of power.
2. Align your wheels.
When a car gets regular tuneups, it goes farther on less gas and rarely breaks down. We aren’t all that different. Take time to refuel and realign your thinking so you can handle life’s trials with more ease and less stress. Listen to music. Play with your dog. Go to yoga.
3. Don’t let your problems be your identity.
No one likes to have his or her business fail or heart broken. But although our setbacks can shape us, they don’t have to define us. When life deals you a tough blow, be vigilant about not letting your adversity become your identity.
4. Lean on your tribe.
The stronger your support network, the better you will cope with challenges and the faster you will recover from them. Don’t be too proud to reach out and ask for help because you’re afraid of appearing weak or needy.
5. Choose optimism.
Just because you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel doesn’t mean it’s not there. Our hardest times can be a catalyst for greatness, introducing us to inner strength that otherwise lies dormant.
Related: What Happy, Successful, Optimistic People Know About Life
This article originally appeared in the July 2017 issue of SUCCESS magazine.
