Two Tips for Dealing With Tough Times

If you want to do well in life, you have to be prepared to handle any challenges that come your way. I don’t know of anyone, no matter how positive, loving or altruistic, that has managed to have a problem-free life. Challenges are unavoidable and we will either grow from them or they will wear us down. If you’re dealing with a big challenge or want to prepare for when one comes, here are two things to keep in mind:

Assume there are solutions

There are times when we feel we can’t go on or that there’s no way things will get any better. It’s human to feel that way when we’re overwhelmed. However, we have to make a choice at some point—do we really believe there’s nothing we can do to improve our situation? Or do we believe we can find some answers if we keep asking and looking. If you’re in a tough situation now and don’t see any solutions, here’s the second thing you need to know about dealing with challenges:

You’re not alone

Unless you’re the rare exception, there’s one thing I know—you have people around you who care and who want to help in some way. If you’re used to taking care of others or being the person who doesn’t really need help from others, it’s time to change that. Life is about giving and receiving and to live a balanced life we need to be good at both. If you’re not so great on the receiving end, now is your time to grow in that. Giving is wonderful, but so is receiving—when you learn how.

- Alan Allard, Executive Coach