In this blog, I talk about 4 practical ways you can feel good about yourself during tough times.
Life happens. Sometimes you have life all planned out, have your goals in place and everything seems perfect. Then out of the blue something just happens and all that you have worked hard for just comes crumbling down on you. This feeling is so disappointing, confusing and shocking.
I believe we have all been there before. It could be you or a loved one getting sick, death of a loved one, a job loss, bankruptcy, breaking of a committed relationship, and so on. You just don’t see it coming and it just hits you as a big surprise.
I remember life threw me curve ball a couple of years ago. I was pregnant with my twins and so excited about it because I had always admired twins and wanted to have a set for myself. Then one morning I went for my 20 week prenatal appointment. My doctor looked me in the eyes, said to me that I was in a critical situation. He said that I could either lose my babies or I would have the babies but they may be so frail that they will need the NICU to thrive.
This was so hard on me. I just couldn’t believe that something that was a dream come true, was now life threatening. Fast forward, I didn’t lose my pregnancy. I had my babies. They were in the NICU, needed some surgeries and special medical attention. But they thrived and are doing well.
When we are going through tough times, it is very easy for us to feel like we are being punished for something we did wrong.
That is exactly how i felt when i was going through this tough time. I sometimes thought to myself; why am i going through this? What have I done wrong? Am I cursed? Is there something wrong with me?
It was a tough time that I thought will never end. But today I look back and I see that this experience was not easy but it has increased my level of Faith in God. It has also built strength and resilience in me greater than I had before. I followed these four practical tips to feel good about myself when I was going through those tough times.
Below are four practical ways you can feel good about yourself during tough times:
1. Find Your Strength in God.
The number one practical way you can feel good about yourself during tough times is to find your strength in God. Let God be your source of hope and joy. When you have tried all the possibilities to overcome your situation and none of them has worked, just turn to Him.
Even when all people forsake you, God never forsakes you. He says when you go through the valley of the shadow of death He is with you. He will never leave you nor forsake. He will work everything out for your good as long as you depend on him. Develop a relationship with God. And give it all to him. Let him have His way in your life. Surrender your will to Him and He will come through for you no matter how long it takes.
2. Avoid Defining your Self-Esteem by Your Current Situation
When i was going through my tough pregnancy, one of the biggest mistakes i made was defining my self-esteem by what i was going through. I felt so low and thought I was not good enough. Until I switched from defining my self-esteem by my situation, I just kept sinking in self pity. To add to it, it was not helping my situation as my health kept deteriorating.
Don’t make the same mistake that I made.You are going through tough times but it doesn’t change who you are or what you are worth. Your situation changed but you didn’t change. Don’t define your self esteem by your situation.
Define your self-esteem by your core talents, abilities and strengths. This is the second practical way you can feel good about yourself during tough times. My blog, four simple strategies to improve your self-esteem goes deeper into this topic.
3. Watch your Thoughts; Think Positive
The third practical way you can feel good about yourself during tough times is to think positive. See your situation as a transition which will pass. Nothing is permanent. Life happens and your situation will change.
Therefore, don’t just give up on life. Pick up yourself and start afresh. Don’t stay down because life threw a curve ball at you. Your circumstances are temporary and will turn around before you know it.
If you think positive and look at the positives of what you are going through, it allows you to not lose hope and it strengthens you to not give up on yourself.
4. Get the Right Support System in Place
When life throws a curveball at you, the fourth practical way you can feel good about yourself is to get the right support system in place. Surround yourself with the right people. People who speak positivity into your life situation. People who encourage you. People who do not look down on you because you are going through tough times.
Know that you are not an island so you cannot go through this alone. You need emotional and psychological support. Sometimes you also need physical support. So don’t put on a tough face and pretend nothing is happening in your world. Keeping that facade is only going to hurt you more.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help from people around you. You need people in your life that you can trust and can open up to about what you are actually feeling inside. You can consider trusted family and friends, therapists, counselors, life coaches, to mention but a few.
In a nutshell:
Tough times come and go. When you find yourself going through tough times, four practical ways you can feel good about yourself are:
- Find Your Strength in God.
- Avoid Defining your Self-Esteem by Your Current Situation
- Watch your Thoughts; Think Positive
- Get the Right Support System in Place
Want To Know More?
If you are going through tough times and need help implementing these practical tips into your life so you can feel good about yourself, I am more than happy to help you. Book your free introductory session with me.
In this session, we will delve into your current situation, and discuss what your options are. Book your free coaching session at empoweredforbalance.com/call
