When Life Is More Than Lemons: 4 Approaches to Get You Through
Life often hands us more than lemons—sometimes, it feels like we're weathering storms beyond our control. In these trying moments, it's not just about survival; it's about navigating through with resilience and self-compassion. Here are four practical strategies to not only endure but thrive during challenging times.
Embracing Adversity: Practical Strategies for Resilience
Regulate your nervous system.
Use what’s already in your toolbox and lower your expectations of what’s possible during this time in life. Adopt micro-practices of things you already know how to do and sprinkle them into your day. Regular short practices are more effective than irregular long practices. Eg. if you ideally practice yoga for an hour before work, instead, integrate several 30-second conscious breathing practices into your regular day. And if you can, seek facilitated support from a counsellor, massage therapist, acupuncturist, or energy healer.
Shore up your support circle.
Find a few trusted people (even just one person) who can help you uphold your boundaries, you can speak openly with and can help you untangle your thoughts and feelings. Being able to talk it out and feel all the feels is essential to keeping your energy flowing and as nimble as possible.
Identify your low-hanging fruit health activities.
What is an easy thing to re-commit to that will contribute to the maintenance of your solid foundation?
Are you generally a good sleeper? Make sure you get more than enough sleep.
Do you have a tricky tummy? Be sure to prioritize meals that are easy for your body to manage.
Does your movement/fitness practice help you keep a clear head? Commit to maintaining some form of it.
And most importantly, adjust your expectations of yourself. This is a complex time, don’t expect yourself to perform like you’re in a top-condition version of yourself. Your best will change from day to day over a lifetime and especially through a stressful period. Just ask yourself, “Have I done the best that I can for this day in this circumstance?” If yes, then great. If no, then take a soft breath and recommit to this principle.
Be kind to yourself.
When times are tough it can be easy to slip into negative thinking and cynicism. And this can easily infiltrate your inner narratives. Interrupt judgemental thoughts just by noticing them “Wow, that was a harsh thing to say about myself.” And redirecting yourself to an easy micro-practice of something that makes you feel good, like a deep breath, relaxing your shoulders, or saying a prayer. It’s already a stressful time, you don’t need to add more pain by allowing your inner monologue to poison your precious inner sanctuary.
The only way through a tough time is through it, so do what you can to soften the ride.
No pain lasts forever.
This will change.
You've got this.
Amidst life's challenges, it's crucial to infuse our journey with kindness and self-compassion. Harsh self-judgments and negative thoughts often compound the stress of tough times. Notice these thoughts and interrupt them gently. Redirect your focus to easy self-care practices—a deep breath, releasing tension, or a moment of reflection. Soften the ride; pain isn't eternal, and change is inevitable.
Navigating tough times isn't about avoiding the storm but learning to ride the waves. Embrace these strategies, infuse them with compassion, and remind yourself that you have the resilience to overcome.
With unwavering support,
D.
P.S. If you’d like to read further on navigating overwhelming times, I wrote another blog post that might be helpful for you.