How to Handle Adversity

Being able to rebound after a crisis or setback is essential to your success, happiness and recovery. Sometimes life gives you more than a lemon - it gives you an entire lemon orchard. So, I say, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When it gives you an orchard…it’s time to step up!"

In other words, you can always handle whatever life gives you, if you have the right attitude and you're willing to see the bigger picture. Here are a few steps to help you expand your vision and shift your perspective.

1.    Keep an open mind. No matter what happens, the situation won’t last forever. Everything   changes sooner or later. Sometimes there’s a lesson to be learned. Look for the blessing within a situation, accept what it brings you so you can move past the experience as quickly as possible.

2.    Be gentle with yourself. Mistakes and setbacks happen. Instead of feeling guilty or getting angry, take a few minutes to breathe so you can think clearly. Stressful emotional reactions drain your energy and cloud your thinking. They keep you from seeing solutions and opportunities that may be the answers to the challenges you’re facing.

3.    Don’t try to do everything yourself. If you need assistance, direction or counseling, get it! We’re here to help each other, but no one can give you a hand if they don’t know you need it. Acknowledging when you need help and asking for it is a sign of strength and awareness, not weakness or incompetence.

4.    Never give up, never surrender! Failure doesn’t happen until you stop trying. When things don’t work out the way you expected,  it just means you’re one step closer to discovering what will work.

5.    Don’t waste time crying over what you can’t change. Get busy looking for solutions, then take action and celebrate your victory. You’re stronger than you think!