Coping with Life
As today’s world becomes more and more complex, we find that coping with everyday life becomes a greater challenge. Failure to cope leads to extensive damage to our health, our relationships, and to society itself. It is not easy, and there are no magic formulas, however the following concepts may help.
Take a step back. Sometimes when we are very focused on a problem, we become so immersed in it that we lose the ability to think it through objectively. Taking a step back, re-examining the problem, and looking at it from a different perspective, can help to come up with new and better solutions.
Try something different. This is based on the saying “If you keep on doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep on getting what you’ve always got.” Imagine trying to fix a piece of equipment, and what you’re doing does not lead to repair of the equipment, but you keep on doing the same thing over and over again. We do this in life, as well. But sometimes the solution to the problem is to try a different approach. It’s amazing how well a new approach can work.
Let it go. Bad things happen to people, no doubt about it. But we can rise above our circumstances and move on. It’s when we focus on the bad thing that happened that the incident or experience can take over our lives and color everything else we experience as well. Dwelling on the past puts a heavy weight on our minds and hearts. Let it go.
Talk to someone. Talk is healing. We really can’t bury the things that bother us. They will either come out as anger, as health problems, or sometimes even as violence. Find someone you can trust, whether it be a friend, relative, clergy, or counselor, and tell them what is on your mind. With the telling comes a release of pent up frustration, and often even a new way to solve the problem.
Take responsibility. Don’t see yourself as a victim. Though something that you are experiencing may have been caused by someone else, it is only you yourself that can take care of things now. The choices, decisions, plans, and focus you give your life are all up to you. And that can be a positive and exciting realization.
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Source: Myrna DuBois
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension
