Life seems to flow like the sea, with all its powers to wear down or build up, to ebb and to flow, to nurture and to destroy, to merge and to separate. Its beauty often astounds when we see the sparkle of sunlight on the blue seas, or the shimmer of moonlight on the oceans waves, or the white spray from those crashing tides.
Sometimes certain waves produce a lot of negative situations, they can rush over us, and the tidal wave hits us with force, resulting in grief, pain and disappointment. At that time, such situations might feel devastating, insurmountable and seem like they will last forever.
However, the waves that hit us with force at high tide are only temporary – sooner or later the tide will go out and those destructive waves will fade away bringing back the peaceful ebb and flow of life.
Once you recognise and understand that the difficulties you face, and that no problem lasts forever, this will help you develop the determination you need to work on your problems. You will then be able to face any situation with ease and bring back the calm to the sea.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) teaches you to reframe your thoughts. Reframing your thoughts in a more positive way will dramatically improve your strength in the face of adversity.
Try these steps to bounce back from the force of any waves.
- View life’s challenges as an opportunity to build resilience. Learn to handle obstacles such as regret, disillusion, unacceptable service, rudeness, being let down, delays, being bullied or betrayed.
- Keep your emotions in check. Having outbursts and throwing your toys out of the pram doesn’t create solutions. Problems are challenges not impossibilities. Shouting or being aggressive because you feel stressed doesn’t make the situation better.
- Keep things in perspective. Don’t magnify or minimise them out of proportion. Realise that this situation is not a matter of life or death.
- Ask yourself, “What step can I take towards a solution?” Then do it and repeat as necessary. All journeys start with one step at a time.
- Take responsibility and ownership rather than complaining or blaming, seek solutions.
- Learn to accept help and support from those that care about you, or ask loved ones for anything you might need.
