Life is very much like a roller coaster – full of ups and downs. At some point or another you may find yourself going through one of those low points. Whether it’s the lose of a job, an addiction, or perhaps something entirely out of your control – life happens and sometimes you can’t always avoid it. So what can you do to bounce yourself back to a better place? Here are a few suggestions.
1. Embrace and Reflect
Understand and accept where you’re at. You won’t be able to change anything until you acknowledge how you got to this place and why. Part of this is identifying what’s causing the unhappiness in your life. You need to figure out what brings you down so you can lift yourself up once again. To do this, make a list if of the things or people that make you feel drained or depressed. Then, you need to decide if you would rather totally eliminate these things from your life, or just put them on the back burner while you focus on getting back on your feet again.
2. Practice Self-Love
Self-compassion is very different from self-esteem, as it creates a compassionate attitude through relating to ourselves kindly, embracing ourselves as we are, flaws and all. Treat yourself kindly and remember that everyone experiences low points in life.
3. Give
The worst thing you can do when your at rock bottom is isolate yourself from others and seclude to your home. Instead, put yourself out there and share whatever gifts you have with other people. It feels great to do this and it will distract you from any feelings of self pity or loathing. Try looking for a local non profit or religious group to get involved with. Who knows, you may find some healing at the same time.
4. Cultivate Happiness
Each day when you wake up, do something that makes you feel great. That could be meditating for five or ten minutes, doing your favorite workout routine, or simply going outside to smell the flowers in your garden. Soon enough, you will see that these small positive changes will bring about big differences in your life.
5. Seek Help
Don’t hesitate to reach out to the people who love you for help. Sometimes, the weight of our problems are too heavy to bear alone. Support can come from family members, friends, or even professionals. Talk therapy is a great way to process your emotions and find a supportive person who can guide you to feeling whole again.
6. Simplify Life
Perhaps things are just too overwhelming to you right now. Eliminating things that are causing your stress or sadness can help decrease anxiety and improve your circumstances. Make sure to hone in on what gets your heart racing and your mind in a frenzy and try to either get rid of or modify these things so you can live a more peaceful existence.
7. Keep Yourself Busy
Many people who hit rock bottom tend to focus primarily on their problems. They mull over everything that’s wrong and struggle to move on from that perspective. Just because you’ve encountered a roadblock, does not mean that you can’t take a detour. Keeping yourself busy will help distract you from focusing on the negatives and open up the opportunity for new and perhaps even better detours.
8. Remember Who’s In Charge
Repeat this affirmation: “I own my own life!”. At the end of the day, you have the power to transform your life into whatever you want it to be. When you approach situations with a fearless, confident attitude, you become courageous and able to tackle life’s obstacles. Remember, life can only win if you let it.
