Suffering ≠ The New Normal
It’s no secret that life can be challenging today. We occasionally (or every day) struggle, feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, or exhausted from the daily grind. We need a reminder to remember who we are at our core. Here are seven steps to turn around and diminish your psychological suffering.
Step 1: Acknowledge Your Feelings (it is OK to feel like this)
The first step is to acknowledge what you’re feeling and why. Acknowledgement allows us to process our emotions and make sense of them. Once we understand why we feel like we do, we are much better equipped to handle the situation. No matter how difficult it may be, you must accept that you are feeling overwhelmed or exhausted and allow yourself to feel whatever negative emotions come up. This doesn’t mean you should dwell on these feelings but recognise them to move on.
Step 2: Challenge Your Negative Thoughts (that is all they are, and you have power over them)
Challenging your negative thoughts is one of the most important steps to ending the spiral of negative emotions. Thoughts are just thoughts, not reality. You have the power to choose what you think, and you can focus on positive thoughts instead of negative ones.
Step 3: Talk it Out (just not with those voices in your head)
Sometimes just talking about the things overwhelming you is enough to make them seem less daunting. Talking to someone you trust can help you unpack your thoughts and feelings, allowing you to see things differently or gain clarity on moving forward. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to someone, writing can be an outlet for your thoughts instead. Writing down how you’re feeling can help.
Step 4: Take Time for Yourself (putting yourself first is not selfish, it is crucial)
Another critical step is to take time for yourself. This could mean anything from walking outside in nature, reading a book, meditating, or taking a few minutes each day to sit quietly and reflect on your thoughts and feelings without distractions or interruptions. Taking time out of your busy schedule to invest in yourself will make a massive difference in helping you regain balance and inner peace.
Step 5: Focus On What You Can Control (’cause you don’t have to change the world today, and it doesn’t matter anyway)
It’s easy to get bogged down by everything we can’t control in life, such as other people’s reactions or circumstances beyond our control. Instead, focus on what you can control – how you react and how much effort you put into making positive changes that will bring about growth and fulfilment over time.
Step 6: Set Goals and make Plans (but use a vision board, too; they work if used properly)
Making goals for yourself is an excellent way to stay motivated and focused on what matters most. Set realistic goals that fit into short-term plans (for example, finishing a project within a specific timeframe) and long-term objectives (such as starting a business). Making concrete plans with achievable goals will give purpose to every day and provide direction overall when times get tough.
Step 7: Reward Accomplishments & Celebrate Wins (that’s it; no more steps)
Finally, remember to reward yourself when things are going well! Celebrate small wins along the way so that you have something positive each day; this will help boost confidence levels while keeping motivation high throughout times of hardship or stress. Achieving big goals takes hard work – remember to recognise and enjoy successes!
Ending psychological suffering does not happen overnight. However, you CAN regain control of your mind and end suffering once and for all! So keep up the good work, and remember to celebrate those successes!
