How to Deal With Setbacks In Life
Setbacks can come in many forms. You may be trying to elevate in your career and find yourself stuck in the same position.
Perhaps you’re at a standstill in a relationship. Maybe you feel yourself moving backward in the type of person you’re trying to be.
With determination and effort, it is possible to move beyond the obstacles in your life. By adjusting your mindset and changing your actions, a difference can be made. Here are some ideas that can help you move past your setbacks.
1. Be ready to cope with discomfort
Trying to achieve things you’ve never done before will lead you to moments of discomfort at times. You’re doing things you’re unfamiliar with, which over time may feel overwhelming.
Using coping mechanisms can help you get through these growing pains. There are many different ones out there, but here are a few you can consider using:
- Meditating
- Listening to music
- Exercise
- Stretching
- Reading
Think of an activity that helps you to relax and re-energize yourself. Give yourself time to do those activities to help manage your emotions.
2. Be positive
I’ve mentioned in previous articles that research has shown believing you can do better makes you more likely to do better. Keep a positive belief in your mind that you can do better in your career, relationships, and life.
Having said all of that, it’s okay to feel negative sometimes. A Harvard study found that bottling up emotions can be harmful to our well-being.
You should acknowledge the negative thoughts and feelings you have inside (without venting). As you acknowledge them, look for alternative ways of thinking and feeling about things that are more positive. Cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques can potentially help you be able to do that.
3. Go to your support system
Having good relationships with people has been proven to help us live longer and manage stress better. It’s important that we never underestimate the power of having supportive people around us.
When you feel like you’re struggling in life, lean on the people that care about you. Seek advice from those that you trust and consider to be wise.
Recognize that you don’t have to deal with everything alone. It’ll make moving through this journey of life a lot easier.
4. Learn from your failure
Setbacks always have a lesson for you. Think about the mistakes that were made that led to your mistake. Find solutions to help you avoid making those mistakes in the future.
You can make notes if it’ll help you remember. If there’s a way you can practice, take time to practice getting things right.
5. Keep trying different things
It can be challenging at times to do different things. We’re accustomed to doing the same thing over and over because it’s comfortable. A study found that people enjoy repeat experiences more than they think.
But it usually takes trying different things to succeed at what you want in life eventually. It’s been my own experience that through trying something different, I found something that worked in helping me be happier.
Setbacks are a part of life
Most of us will face failure and defeat in life on the pathway to success. How you handle those moments can determine whether you overcome your setbacks.
Do your best to maintain a good attitude. Continue to make an effort to do better. Those two things combined can hopefully help you move forward and achieve your goals one day.