One aspect of human existence that will always come as a challenge are the times when we are faced with some kind of failure. Whether the cause of it was a personal shortcoming or just a stroke of bad luck, one thing is for certain: You must carry on. The first step to recovery is to admit defeat and begin rebuilding. Here’s how.
Seek Out Support
Asking for help can be difficult because it’s a part of professing that you have failed—but this admittance is necessary if you want to truly progress past the obstacles you’re facing. There is no shame in turning to family and friends for emotional support or a sympathetic ear. That’s what they’re there for, isn’t it?
Financial burdens can be some of the heaviest you will ever have to carry. One example is if you have a bad credit score, in that case that one problem tends to leak into other areas of your personal life if you let it get too far before taking action. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and there are professionals who can help you get there.
Give Yourself Time
Revel in your misery for a bit. Pain and sorrow are an inextricable part of life, just as much a part of it as joy and happiness are. Ignoring this or masking its impact with alcohol or substances will prevent you from working through it and developing a pain tolerance. You won’t be able to grow from it.
So, have yourself a good cry. Allow yourself space to feel sorry for yourself with no judgements. But when you’re done, dust yourself off, and move on with the next step.
Self-Love Through Self-Discipline
Loving yourself in your darkest hour might sound like the last thing you want to do. However, self-discipline is the core of self-love, and this will function as your foundation as you begin to rebuild. What does this mean? This means choosing what will serve you over what will soothe you. This means doing what will cause you to be better rather than just feel better.
Sure, self-care could mean getting your nails done or curling up in bed with some ice-cream and a good movie. But honest self-care doesn’t always feel good and requires discipline, like not hitting the snooze button over and over, or going to the gym. If you truly love yourself, then take care of yourself the way you would your child or best friend. Eat well. Sleep eight hours. Be productive. These are just a few ways you can practice self-love through self-discipline.
Stay Healthy
There’s a reason why so many people hop on the “No GMO” train. Studies show that organic foods can accomplish all kinds of things from improving fertility in men to increasing life-span. Consider eating organic, however, just eating healthily instead of munching on processed foods will show distinct improvements in how you look and feel.
Combine that with exercise and you’ve got yourself a recipe for success. It’s been proven that regular exercise can help you with a few of the first things that seem to vanish when you’re going through a tough time: happiness, sleep, and energy. Consistent exercise is also a way to practice self-care.
Find a New Hobby
It’s easy to isolate yourself or fall into bad habits when you’re going through a rough time. Resist these urges. Brainless activities like binge-watching TV or playing video games are not going to help you out of your funk. Try replacing these common habits with something new, like taking a pottery class or learning how to play an instrument. These are not only great ways to meet new people, but expanding your knowledge and expertise in new areas always comes with a sense of achievement and confidence boost.
If money is tight, then don’t stress! There are many low-cost hobbies that will make you feel better on the inside so that you can rejoin the land of the living once you’ve done some internal healing.
There’s a pair of twins whose father was an alcoholic. One of the twins grows up to be successful and never drinks, while the other becomes an alcoholic. When asked why he became an alcoholic, he says, “My father was an alcoholic.” When the other twin is asked how he became such a huge success and why he never drinks, he responds, “My father was an alcoholic.”
The moral of the story: You choose how your hardships affect you. Yes, life can be unfair, but you decide what happens after that to a certain degree. Choose to love yourself even when you fail. Choose to be kind to yourself and to do what’s best for you from the time your alarm rings to the time you go to bed, and you will reap the benefits later.
