Everyone has those days were everything seems to be conspiring against you, when nothing seems to be working out the way you want it to.
There are many things large and small we don’t have control over, but there are ways to make peace with even the worst turn of events.
The most important element in salvaging the bad is how we think of ourselves. The second is our mindset and attitudes. If we can shift those areas to work for us we can always make life better.
Here are 10 very important reminders to motivate you on your challenging days. See what speaks to you and keep it at hand for when it’s needed.
1. “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”
This quote from Friedrich Nietzsche sums up our capacity to learn how strong we are. When it feels like your limits are being tested, keep pushing yourself forward, because momentum is everything. As long as you keep moving forward–even with baby steps–nothing can keep you down.
2. Not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
The best way to deal with not getting what we want is to focus on what we have instead of what we don’t have. The important thing is to stay positive and to ward off the negative feelings or thoughts. It’s no fun to feel you’ve lost out, but the long-range perspective may show you something positive that came out of the experience.
3. Struggle is a natural part of life.
Part of developing is experiencing unexpected challenges and struggles. People lose their jobs, businesses go under, leadership gets challenged. It’s never easy, but it may help to remember that struggles give us an opportunity to grow stronger and better.
4. Challenges give us a chance to learn.
The faster you accept that we all fail and that our challenges are here to teach us something, the faster you will get with being brilliant. The trick is to make sure you’re open to the learning.
5. What other people think isn’t important; what is important is how you feel about yourself.
You cannot be everything to everyone, and no matter what you do there will always be someone who thinks differently. And that should be OK. What’s important is what you think and feel about yourself.
6. We have to experience what is, not what we expected it to be.
A difficult reality is more useful to us than living in bitterness and resentment over things that didn’t happen. Stay grounded in the present truth of your life.
7. The truth is; tough times never last but tough people do.
Concentrate on what you want and don’t let the challenges get you down. Be focused, be clear, and don’t let anything distract you from what you want. Everyone gets knocked down but not everyone stays down.
8. Surround yourself with people who make you feel good.
There’s nothing more valuable than people who make you feel good. Surround yourself with those people. Every time you subtract negativity from your life, you make room for positivity. Especially on the very bad days, make sure you let go of negative people and surround yourself with those who believe in you and bring out your best.
9. You never know how strong you really are until being strong is the only choice you have.
You always have a choice no matter what–there are always at least two options. If you want to change something, you have to find a way out of it. You can view that challenge as an invitation to see how strong you are or you can view it as a way to learn how easily you give in or give up- the choice is yours and it will always be available to you.
10. Remember, bad days will come and go but good days are here to stay.
Life is not easy, and if you think it is you will be constantly disappointed. The bad days will come but we have a choice to turn them into good days by knowing that achieving anything worthwhile takes constant effort. Align what you do with your passion and purpose, and even the worst day isn’t so bad.
N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
THE LEADERSHIP GAP
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.