In my book, LISTEN: Trusting Your Inner Voice in Times of Crisis, I interviewed hundreds of people who had survived a difficult time. They offered many helpful tips and poignant advice. I wrote about some of them in the previous blog. Here are two more:
BE KIND TO YOURSELF.
Now is not the time to beat yourself up for any perceived mistakes, or to wallow in “what I should have done.” One of the biggest challenges most of us experience in the face of failure is knowing how to love ourselves through a difficult time. Keep your heart and mind open. You’ll find that insight and wisdom will come through when you most need them to guide you in the right direction.
PRACTICE POSITIVE SELF-TALK.
If you're a pessimist, you're likely to spend a lot of time with negative self-talk. Common examples include "I can't do this," "Nothing works out for me," Or, "I have terrible luck." Whether you're facing an upcoming interview or giving a speech, pay attention to what you're telling yourself! It will make a dramatic difference in how you feel. Make a conscious attempt to shift the focus on any pessimistic thoughts. Try saying things to yourself like, "I know I'll get through this." "What could I do today to stay relaxed?" "There are many things I do well and today I'll stay focused on those."
I’ll end with a quote from Richard Carlson who wrote the Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff series of books. “Let go of fear. The universe has an infinite supply of opportunity. There is plenty to go around. You may be surprised to see that something is coming your way right now!”
