Most of the time, life’s challenges come at us with a large stress-inducing intensity. We may close ourselves off from these experiences to protect ourselves from being hurt. But the greatest thing about life is not avoiding those situations we fear but rather learning how to face them and cope in healthy ways.
According to Kimberly Goldsteen, Life will rise and fall, and it will challenge you. It will pull up a chair, take up your energy and ask you to dance. This can be fun, but at times it can be scary. You want to navigate these waters well, so here are a few strategies you can use anytime you face a new challenge. I’m not saying that life isn’t unpredictable, and you won’t always know how it will end when you begin taking action towards your dreams and goals or when life takes an unexpected turn.
Cope And Don’t Avoid
Turning away from a challenge doesn’t make it go away. The best way to deal with it is to face it head on and cope with it in a healthy way. This means being honest about your feelings, learning how to accept yourself for who you are and how others see you, and finding ways to feel better about yourself and what’s going on around you.
Steer Emotions Towards Positive Outcomes
Focus on what you want. You will always feel good when you’re moving toward something you want — whether having a great time with friends or winning an award at work. If you’re thinking about what makes you happy, your emotions will naturally help you get there.
Use emotions as guides. Your feelings tell you a lot about what’s going on around you, whether it’s how much progress you’ve made toward your goals or how others might be feeling about something they said or did to you. You can use this information to make better decisions and stay out of situations that make you unhappy.
Develop Positive Coping Strategies
Coping strategies are the actions you take to deal with stress and the problems you face in life. Coping strategies can be positive and helpful, like taking a walk or calling a friend. They can also be negative and unhelpful, such as drinking alcohol or eating unhealthy foods.
When we face challenges in life, we all develop coping strategies to deal with them. Some people turn to unhealthy outlets like drinking alcohol or using drugs when they feel stressed out, while others go running or take up yoga. Unfortunately, some of us might not have learned how to use healthy coping strategies effectively. If this is the case for you, try these tips:
Talk about your feelings – Talking about your feelings can help relieve stress by releasing tension and helping you see things from a different perspective. If talking isn’t an option for you right now, keep a journal where you write down what you feel so that you don’t bottle it up inside—this will make it easier for you to express yourself when the time comes around again.
Do something physical – Exercise releases endorphins which make us feel good, so this is one of the best ways to cope with stress!
Talk with someone you trust – Talk things through with someone you trust or who has experience dealing with similar situations (for example, a friend, family member, or professional). Talking things through helps us get another perspective on the situation and develop solutions that work for everyone involved.
Taking time out from the situation – could involve taking a walk or listening to music, and it might even mean going for a swim or playing a sport. The important thing about taking time out is that it helps us relax, slow down and take stock of the situation, and it allows us to think more clearly about what needs doing next and how best to tackle it.
Do something good for yourself every day – Self-care helps us feel better, so take time to do something good for yourself every day, like taking a bath or reading a book.
Connect with others who are facing similar challenges – You don’t have to face challenges alone — some people have walked the same path before you and have learned from those experiences; connect with them through social media or in real life!
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions in the present moment without judging them as good or bad. It can help you deal with negative thoughts and emotions more effectively than trying to push them away. For example, if you’re feeling anxious about something, try thinking about it nonjudgmentally instead of trying not to think about it (for example, “I’m feeling anxious”). This helps you become less overwhelmed by negative feelings over time so that they don’t have as much control over your behavior.
Learn Time Management Skills
Time management is an important skill to learn said by Kimberly Goldsteen. It’s not just about scheduling your day-to-day activities but also learning how to prioritize and still make room for fun and relaxation. Many people struggle with this because they feel like they’re always busy but never getting anything done. If this sounds like you, you should consider taking a time management course or reading a book on the subject. This will help you get things done more efficiently and effectively to enjoy your life instead of stressing about everything that needs doing!
Avoid Unhealthy Habits
One of the best ways to help your child cope with life’s challenges is by avoiding unhealthy habits yourself. If you smoke or drink too much alcohol, these habits can affect your health and well-being. By getting help for any addictions or unhealthy behaviors, you’ll be better equipped to support your child when dealing with their own problems. If you have an addiction problem or other mental health issues that may interfere with parenting responsibilities, seek professional help from a counselor or therapist specializing in addiction counseling and mental health services.
Get Plenty Of Sleep
This is one of the best ways to reduce stress and improve your moods. Sleep deprivation can increase feelings of anxiety, irritability, and depression. Sleep problems are also linked to other health issues like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Try going to bed simultaneously every night and waking up at the same time every morning, even on weekends. Keep electronic devices out of your bedroom — including phones, computers, and TVs — so they don’t distract you from falling asleep or waking up at the right time when you have an alarm set.
Kimberly Goldsteen
Kimberly Goldsteen worked at The Kennedy Center and The Whitney Museum of Modern Art, which has become an important cultural center that connects thousands of artists with millions of people each year.
