Here’s to some fresh perspectives on coping. I decided to reach out to some of my favorite bloggers and pose a question that’s in line with the theme of my blog – rising above adversity.
As the saying goes, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” What helps you get going when you encounter obstacles in life?
I’ve compiled responses from 14 bloggers:
Alex Blackwell The Bridgemaker
My faith. My faith helps me overcome the obstacles I encounter. When things don’t go as planned, I step back and remember that I’ve been successful in difficult situations before. This knowledge fuels my faith and helps me to keep moving forward.
Annabel Candy Get In The Hot Spot
When I encounter obstacles I tap into my inner stubbornness.
I really believe anyone can do anything if they put their mind too it but having a positive mindset is crucial.
For me staying happy, and healthy are keys to achieving success in anything so I exercise most days. It doesn’t need to be a full on sweat session. A brisk walk will set me up for the day and make sure I’m in the mood to handle anything.
The other thing that helps is knowing that nothing lasts forever. Those tough times you’re having now will be over soon enough. If you can only just keep going one more day you’ll come out the other side stronger and wiser.
I’ve also learned that progress is never linear. Life always throws new obstacles in front of you but that’s part of the journey. Keep going no matter what and you’ll get over them. Sunnier days are always just round the corner.
Courtney Carver Be More With Less
When I encounter obstacles in life, the first thing I try to do is put the obstacle into perspective. Is it really as bad as I think it is at this moment? After receiving an MS diagnosis in 2006, I realize that when our emotions take over, things can seem much worse than they actually are. The months just before and after my diagnosis were so scary and unnerving, but just a few months later, I settled into my new normal and realized that much of my panic was unnecessary.
Once I rationally assess the reality of the situation, I live to be proactive in working through it. This often requires asking for help and being open to change. Both of those things can be challenging, but neither have failed me yet.
Barrie Davenport Live Bold and Bloom
I have found that the best way to overcome obstacles is to stop thinking and start doing. I used to spend a lot of time in my head, trying to figure out why something was happening, what it meant, and how I could fix it. Now, I spend just enough time in my head to ask myself some practical questions about the situation — and then I act. Forward movement, even if you aren’t 100% sure you are going in the best direction, is the remedy for inertia, fear, and difficulties. When you take action, you feel in control of your life and your circumstances. Fretting and worry only make you feel worse.
Lori Deschene Tiny Buddha
The one thing that helps me get going is to ask myself, “What would the person you want to be do?” The person I want to be has fears, but acts in spite of them. She has challenges, but chooses to learn from them. She stumbles, but works to get up a little more quickly with each fall. When I remember these ideas and do my best to honor them, I feel proud of myself, because I know that even though I am not perfect, I am doing the best I can. I can’t always control my circumstances, but I can control whether or not I deal with them with courage, strength, and integrity.
Tracey Jackson Tracey Jackson
I often times want to give up; not give up so much as not put so much out there. I want to pull in, as I find these days people are very tense, nervous and they are lashing out.
I put myself out there in what I do, and often get attacked. People think I’m tough as I’m transparent and they think I don’t get hurt. I do, quite often. Many times I feel why bother? Why write? Why blog? Why not just be with my kids and do the things I want, take the classes I want and see my friends?
I often lay myself bare for others to step on. Then I see that I help one person, one person sends an email or a note how much something I said or did helped them, made them feel less alone or got them to do something they were afraid of. Today a woman emailed and said she is getting her first mammogram because of a blog I wrote and in those moments I get the strength I need to keep putting it out there.
And when those things don’t come through I somehow have this inner voice, it is the voice on the sidelines that has kept cheering me on my entire life. When I have faced rejection, disappointment or not the success I had hoped or worked for, it just says what’s the point of being here if you don’t do something constructive with your time. We are her for such a brief time, make it count?.
And then there are the words of my grandfather, the last words he ever spoke to me, “Do something with your life.” And I hear him and sometimes I keep going to make him proud and because he was so right.
Tess Marshall The Bold Life
I step-up my spiritual practices and principles. I attend a support group where people will support me and get me on the straight and narrow. I ask for help. I walk my talk, I do what I tell my clients to do, I journal, I pray, I do the work, I study A Course In Miracles, I meditate, I take any action I can in the right direction. After that I surrender and let the rest go.
Justin Mazza Mazzastick.com
What obstacles, Just kidding! Whenever I feel myself get stuck I always stop what I am doing and center myself through breathing exercises and meditation. This really works and I will tell you how.
Whenever we perceive obstacles in the outer world they are a direct reflection of blocks in our “inner world” better known as subconscious limiting beliefs.
While I was in the process if finishing my latest eBook: Guide 4 New Bloggers, I began to experience a block. I was 98% there, almost at the finish line and I just had to upload the Ebook and publish the promotion post.
So, I allowed my subconscious thoughts to surface after centering myself, so I could find out why I was feeling resistance to promoting and selling my latest eBook. Well, the subconscious beliefs were, what if no one buys it, what if I get a lot of returns, what if someone steals it and so on.
I had to “squash” these limiting beliefs with new and empowering ones. I said to myself that people will buy this book because I have provided much value in it. No one is going to steal it, they can’t. Every business gets returns, it’s part of doing business.
After placating my limiting beliefs I was able to get going again.
Marcus Sheridan The Sales Lion
I think there are a few different things I do Harriet, and I appreciate you asking.
1. I expect resistance– Although I’m certainly not willing resistance into my life, I understand that stuff happens. It’s not always going to go perfectly, and in fact it’s usually in the moments of most difficulty do we learn the most about ourselves as persons.
2. Family perspective– When bad things happen, I often times think about my wife and 4 children. They always bring me perspective. And when I consider the fact that they’re in my life, other problems seem much smaller.
3. I get to work– I’m not one to sit around and feel sorry for myself. I also chock up problems quickly. Once done, they’re done. Can’t change ’em, so the only option is moving forward…and working as hard as I can to get better and fix whatever the issue is.
4. Balance– Problems just aren’t mental. They’re physical, spiritual, etc. This is why I try to maintain balance. I workout everyday. I attend church. These things and much more bring balance to all areas of my life.
Adrienne Smith Adrienne Smith.net
I look at obstacles as just a bump in the road. No one breezes through life with no problems, worries or difficulties. I just take some deep breaths, I look at this as some lesson I’m suppose to learn and I keep the faith that I will get through this. I know it doesn’t seem possible at times but had it not been for some road blocks in my life, I don’t believe I’d be where I am today. So I keep my faith that God will bring me through this and it’s just another lesson I am suppose to learn. I quit sweating the small stuff years ago and only remain in the present moment. I quit worrying about things that are out of my control. I just concentrate on what I’m doing at that very moment and know that everything will work out like it should. That’s how I encounter obstacles in my life.
Jacob Sokol Sensophy
One of the things that helps me get through tough situations is developing strategies for coping with them before they arise. For instance, when I approach a situation that makes me nervous – let’s say public speaking – I know that I need to CONSCIOUSLY focus on my breath. I take deep breaths and they starts to relax my mind, body, and soul. Another example is sometimes I’ll have a “negative” thought pop up in my head. In the past, these thoughts would sabotage me, but now I’m lightning quick to label that thought as what it really is – usually anxiety or fear – and I don’t take the “negative” thought personally. This enables me to not dwell on it but instead notice that I’m anxious or afraid and plan my next step accordingly. Having pre-determined methods for making it thought life’s madness are a key component for how I’m able to get thought things when “the going gets tough!”
David Stevens PersonalPower4Me
The “going” is quite tough for me at present in certain areas, so this is timely and again allows me to reflect on my situation.
I firstly do a check on my “defenses”. These are my assets, my strengths…..are they still holding or do they need reinforcing? If I am coming from a strong enough base then I am confident that I can withstand the tough challenges. If I feel that my base has weakened I will review my strategy and rebuild to a place of strength.
This all may sound complicated but really it’s about reviewing one’s situation. Times change, situations change and challenges at times become tougher. Therefore you need to be vigilant and make sure that you are fully equipped. One needs to have Traction before taking effective Action.
My killer weapon is keeping the Big Picture always in mind. This won’t allow obstacles to put you off track, at least not for too long. Keeping your bigger picture firmly in frame will give you the motivation to defeat any obstacles.
P.S. Make sure that your “Big Picture” is clear enough. The clearer the better otherwise the motivation will wane.
Katie Tallo Momentum Gathering
Sometimes writing about the obstacle helps flesh it out, but more often than not, a walk out in nature gets me grounded again and feeling balanced enough to take those first steps towards facing the problem head on. You see, in nature, there’s a letting go, a distancing from the emotions of a situation, and an embracing of what truly matters. A stroll through rolling hills and lovely trees reminds me that nothing is so terrible it cannot be worked through and that life is unfolding naturally. I flow back into life’s rhythms instead of fighting them. Sometimes it takes a few long walks to get there.
Jimmy Tong My Life Architects
I view obstacles in life as something that creates discomfort in our life. Anything that make life uncomfortable are therefore negative, supposedly. But that is the old way of looking at things. Obstacles are in fact something that will force you to do something different. As a result it will grow you.
When obstacles show up in our lives, the way I have learnt to deal with it is in the following steps:
1) Refocus on the end result not the obstacle.
2) Study the obstacle. Find out all details you can about your problem. Seek other people’s opinion if you have the time to get alternative perspectives.
3) Evaluate all available resources.
4) Brainstorm for ways to overcome the obstacles.
5) Choose the best intuitively and take action.
6) Repeat with next idea if first plan fail.
Step one is really crucial for me. Focusing on the end brings hope and strength. You will know that one day, you will reach you destination no matter what. That’s important.
Knowing other people who have gone through the same obstacles also helps.
And so you have it. Fourteen responses from personal development and inspirational bloggers.
Care to join in and share your ways of handling obstacles? Let’s hear from you.
