Enjoy And Share









Bad things happen. They happen to good people and they happen to not so good people. It is an inescapable, unavoidable fact of life that at some point you are going to end up hurt, sad, angry, frustrated, or maybe a combination of all four plus some emotions I’m surely forgetting. The good news is: it gets better and there is always a silver lining, or positive outcome, or learning opportunity, which can be found within any situation. The hard part is putting aside your negative emotions and analyzing the circumstances to find the good. Luckily, there are many things we as human beings can do to help achieve this goal.

1. Talk to family and friends about what is going on.

The people you are closest with can be your greatest ally in finding the good in a particularly difficult situation. If they have taken the time to become an important part of your life, then they surely want what’s best for you and will do whatever possible to help you work through your problems. Finding someone to word vomit your issues to has the same effect as writing in a journal, which a lot of people find very comforting. Sometimes simply saying it aloud, or writing it down, provides release and a clear mind to focus on what can be gained from the situation. Not only that, advice from loved ones can be invaluable to working through the tough period. Being altogether separate from the situation can allow your friends and family to see it in a light that you cannot. So, do not be afraid to share, in fact, embrace communication as a gateway to finding the silver lining.

2. Meditation.

Taking time to clear one’s mind entirely can greatly improve clarity in times of trouble. Even if you are not a yogi with years of experience in the art of meditating, simply becoming aware of your own feelings and how they are affecting you can be a fundamental step to moving past them and embracing the next challenge. And by meditation, I don’t necessarily mean sitting cross-legged and evoking the power of the “ohm” to guide you through life’s troubles. Sometimes it is as simple as giving yourself some time with silence. You can be driving, sitting in your room, eating dinner. The power of a clear mind will make the stress significantly dissipate, leaving you calm and ready to analyze the good in the situation, and work past the bad.

3. Exercise.

Our emotions can have a tremendous effect on our outlook and cause stress to our physical well-being. Fighting back the negativity through exercise takes your mind off of what is going on and provides an outlet for expressing the emotion in a corporeal way. Taking this avenue to the extreme can exhaust your mind to the point that you do not have the energy to worry, providing the opportune moment to look for the silver lining. Exercise also gives us alone time to work through the issues at hand. I find that while I am running or cycling, or immediately afterwards, my brain is working harder and my ability to think clearly is heightened because of this. Whatever your favorite type of exercise, use it to your advantage when looking for the good in negative circumstances. Always remember that the way we handle the most difficult situations is what defines us as humans. Finding strength and good in these negative circumstances takes practice, but is achievable by all if you are willing to try. Life is never easy, but it can be easier with the right state of mind and help from others.