The world continues to turn despite the conflicted political scene, the economy still not on it’s feet, and having to deal with our own issues. We may be feeling stretched to our limit and unable to cope with the stress of daily life. No one has all the answers! However, I hope what I share today will bring a smile to your face and lift your heart a bit.
Ahhh, Adversity!
There are many different kinds of adversity. Some are so serious we don’t know how we will survive, but usually, along with the help of our wider network of friends and family, we do. Some of the challenges that feel like they could drive us to the brink of insanity; however, are those little things that accumulate and just keep coming at us over and over again.
How to deal? Here are some specific things that have successfully lightened the load in the past for others. See if any of them resonate with you:
Laugh very heartily – if you need to, go out of your way to find something funny. I highly recommend it! Perhaps you can think of a time when some situation was terribly comical and allow yourself to laugh out loud about it again now – preferably till it brings tears to your eyes. Such a relief!
Find something to be passionate about. Get involved with a particular activity, on purpose, that creates in you a passion – a mission of sorts – into your life. The joy of watching it come to fruition will be an almost vaccination-like effect against seemingly negative events. What could you become so passionate about that it shuts out less desirable input? You will find it to be almost shocking when someone asks you what I think about “that news report” and you realize you have no idea what they are talking about!
With a close friend, devote ½ hour minimum every day to a spiritual practice that you both enjoy. You may think you’ll only do it for a week, days can easily turn into weeks! The push and shove of daily life can sometimes squeeze good habits out of our lives, but returning to a regular spiritual practice can become a huge uplift to your souls. You may well look forward to that ½ hour every day with delight and anticipation.
I hope these good words and suggestions give you some extra coping energy and lift your spirit!
particularly topical! I’d add to this that you should do an hour’s work every week volunteering with a charity (along the lines of your last tip) – just something that will lift the spirit of others… what goes around…
Sam invites you to read . . . Hello world!