Let’s be honest, while this life can be an incredible blessing full of mind-blowing highs and life-changing experiences, there are also going to be times that it just sucks. Sometimes all you need during the lowest of times is merely a reminder of the bigger picture.
We are all going to experience heartache and pain in life, you’re not alone (even if it currently feels that way). If you feel, at this moment, like your life just sucks and there is no hope of it looking up, then it may be time to take a step back and reassess the situation.
Here are 12 life-changing reminders for anyone who is currently stuck living a life that sucks:
#1 – It’s okay to not be okay.
Don’t try to force yourself to be ‘okay’ all the time. If you are experiencing tough emotions, bottling them up will only cause them to fester beneath the surface, impacting your life even longer. Accept these challenging feelings and work through them, as that is the only way to release them from your life entirely.
#2 – Each moment is a gift.
This is a hard one if you’re currently struggling with where you are at but take a step back and look around you. Each moment that we are given here is a gift in some way. During the good times, these reasons to be grateful are far more obvious but challenge yourself to find reasons to be grateful during your low times as well. It could be something as simple as a hot cup of your favorite tea.
#3 – Focus on taking just one step at a time.
If you look at the whole situation before you, trying to find a way to turn everything around, it can be completely overwhelming. Instead, break it all down into more manageable pieces. Focus on taking just one step in the right direction, only shifting your thoughts to the next step when the first one has been successful. Any movement in the right direction is positive.
#4 – Take a look at the bigger picture.
Many times, when we feel as though our lives are at their worst, it is because we experienced something negative or challenging and allowed it to take over everything. A single bad day does not mean you are currently living a bad life. Look outside of this moment at everything else that is great in your life.
#5 – Life is one giant rollercoaster ride.
I would love to tell you that you can even this out, eliminating life’s low points and camping out in the happiness and positivity, but it’s just not that easy. Life is a combination of incredible highs and challenging lows, regardless of who you are. Remember, if you are currently in a low time, the only way to go on this journey is up.
#6 – Nothing that you experience in this life is permanent.
You may feel like there is no hope right now, leaving you trapped in your current situation but if there is one thing that is guaranteed in life, it’s change. Keep your heart and mind open to the possibilities that will present themselves along the way.
#7 – You are not a victim.
Don’t fall into the trap of victim thinking, as it quickly makes a situation far worse. By seeing yourself as a victim, you are giving up control of your life. This will only lead to more pain and heartbreak as you welcome additional pain and struggle into your life moving forward. While you may feel like it’s one challenge after a number, try to remember that you are not a victim in this life.
#8 – There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
There is no denying that we are each going to experience times of trial in our lives, and they are going to royally suck! However, these challenging times are short-lived. If you look to the future you will see that this pain is temporary. You just need to keep going and you will be okay soon.
#9 – You are the one in control.
While you may be dealt a challenging time, the decision to allow it to take over is yours. Sure, you can’t control whether you have to face this difficulty, but by choosing how you react to it, you retain control over your own life and your happiness.
#10 – Turn this into an opportunity for growth.
Throughout our lives we are presented with opportunities to grow and evolve, becoming the best version of ourselves. When you feel like things aren’t going the way you would like to, there is likely a change you can make in your life that will, over time, help you to turn this around. Take some time to reflect on your life and the ways that you can learn from this experience.
#11 – You are stronger than you know.
We admire strength in others, but far too often we are blind to our own incredible inner strength. Look back at your life and you will see that you have already survived some significant challenges, and here you are. Hold your head high because you are capable of getting through this.
#12 – Its only as bad as you allow yourself to think it is.
Your mindset and perception are an incredibly valuable tool that needs to be harnessed and used for your own best advantage. Rather than allowing the situation to force you to see your life as terrible, adjust your outlook on the situation. The same situation can be seen as either life destroying, or a mere bump in the road, that decision is yours to make.