Being able to pick yourself up during hard times is essential for success. Everybody hurts. We all go through difficult periods. The key is to have a list of actions you can take to lift yourself so that you can get back in the game! Here are 7 ways.
1. Exercise
Not only will exercise improve your mood through the release of endorphins, but it will also improve your strength, appearance, and general health. (Endorphins are brain chemicals that are released when you do vigorous exercise. They give you a feeling of well-being or euphoria.)
If you lack health, strength, and energy, you cannot do the work necessary to improve your circumstances. As you progress in your exercise regimen and see the results in the mirror, you will start feeling better about your life.
Exercise and getting fit are areas you can control, regardless of what is happening around you. Even if you don’t have any other positive things happening now, you can take advantage of this period of despair and use it as motivation to get yourself in the best shape of your life!
This is one of the most reliable ways to pick yourself up.
2. Get Organized
Getting organized can improve your daily efficiency and your pride in your home or office. Consider all the areas that need to be organized, and dive in.
Start by going through everything and deciding what to throw in the trash, give away, clean up, refill, store, and organize. Organization means putting things together in logical groups and locations that make it the most efficient and easiest for you to access. Items you don’t use regularly should be placed further away from your primary work area, and items you use more often should be placed within arm’s reach. Next, go to an office supply store and get organization equipment like storage boxes, file containers, hanging files, file tabs, folders, and whatever else you think you might need. To get an idea of what’s available and to save yourself some time, you might shop online.
Depending on your situation, this process may take several days. Don’t stop after just one room, like your office. Get everything organized! That means all your closets, drawers, and cabinets in your bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and yes, your garage too! As you work, you might discover that you have enough stuff that you want to get rid of to have a garage sale and make some money!
Once you’re done, you’ll be proud of your accomplishment, enjoying the organization, and uplifted.
3. Get Some Inspirational Music
Search online
I find New Age music to be particularly inspiring. Don’t bypass New Age instrumental artists
Once you have a collection of inspirational music, use it strategically, such as while you’re exercising, getting organized, doing your work, and most importantly, when you need to pick yourself up and get into an inspired state.
4. Get Some Inspirational Books
Go to Amazon
Consider getting the audio version of the books you select so that you can listen to them during your commute, exercise, work, and other activities.
Having a few inspirational books nearby is a quick way to pick yourself up.
5. Do Something for Someone Else
We have all heard this one. I can tell you from experience that it works in ways you could never predict. Doing something for someone else helps you forget about your problems and provides an internal fulfillment that cannot be derived from any other activity I’ve found. This is especially true if you are helping someone much less fortunate than you are.
One year on Thanksgiving Day, I helped serve dinner to hundreds of homeless individuals and families. Upon reflection, I felt I had received a greater gift than the homeless people. Giving up my typical Thanksgiving Day for this activity felt so good. It gave me a renewed perspective that I value to this day. I struggle to put this feeling into words right now. It’s not a matter of thinking, “Look at those homeless people. I am so thankful that I am not one of them.” It’s not that kind of awakening. It’s more of a heightened self-respect for giving and a greater compassion for the homeless. It really doesn’t matter what got them there. I am always amazed at those who mock homeless people and declare, “Why don’t they just get a job?” If you know anything about what it’s truly like to be homeless, you know that comments like that are incredibly arrogant, ignorant, and narrow-minded.
Doing something for someone else provides a mysterious gift that strengthens one’s ability to face one’s problems. It is one of the best ways to pick yourself up for a considerable time.
6. Create a Vision for the Future
To create a vision for the future is to create hope, drive, and inspiration. Things may look bleak now, but imagine how much more you will appreciate the good times when they arrive.
Have you ever met someone born into wealth and never faced many of the challenges that the rest of us do, like making a living? They have always gotten everything they wanted. They’ve always had their dream home and dream car. They have never faced a layoff, foreclosure, eviction, or an empty refrigerator. These people have no actual depth of appreciation. They have no experience of lack to compare with their past or present circumstances.
By creating a vision of your future, you are erecting goalposts. How can you find your way without knowing where you want to be in the future? Decide what you want to have and be so that your subconscious mind and the universe (or God) can work on helping you get there.
Write out how you want your life to be in every area. Then list the steps needed to get there for each one. Add dates when you expect to have each step and goal completed. Finally, hold the vision of what you want to accomplish and how you’ll feel when you achieve it firmly in your mind. Do this and you’ll be able to pick yourself up every time.
7. Keep Your Thoughts in the Present & On What You Want
All your power to perform is in the present moment. If you’re thinking about unpleasant events in your past or imagining unhappy circumstances in the future, you ruin your ability to perform in the present. Negative thoughts weaken, depress, and reduce your ability to perform at your best.
How can you affect positive outcomes in your future if you are spending your energies on thoughts of regret and worry? You can’t! How much energy and enthusiasm will you have if you are thinking about all the things that you do not want? None!
Keep your thoughts in the present moment and the desired outcomes, and you’ll have all the joy and energy you need. Once you train yourself to do this, you’ll begin to see miracles.
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Once you get into the habit of using these techniques, you’ll be able to pick yourself up quickly during hard times.