Let’s face it, sometimes life hands us lemons, and it can feel difficult to see the purpose of it all. “Why me?” can take center stage, so with that, I’d love to show you a better way of thinking. A way that will pull you out of the quicksand and over to the pretty white sand somewhere on a beach. With a drink in your hand. Oh, and one of those cute little umbrellas!
Here are 3 great ways to bounce back from a bad experience:
1. Realize that everything happens for you, not to you.
I love the idea that everything is happening for us, and not to us. I believe that every perceived bad experience has been served to us in order to heal something. When we find ourselves down and out, we should ask ourselves, “What was the purpose of this?” and then notice what answer comes up. There is a reason for everything that happens to us. Accepting and embracing this idea allows us to catapult ourselves forward.
2. Ask yourself two questions: What is this blessing? What is the lesson?
We have a choice to see failures and less-than-ideal situations as either an impediment or as a chance to learn. As crazy as it might sound, I can truthfully look back on some major snags and realize if I hadn’t gone through them I wouldn’t have learned my lesson or allowed myself to evolve into the woman I am now. What plagues us is here to teach us. This can be challenging in the beginning when it’s easy to dwell on what’s wrong versus how to see the good in the experience. One day, you will look back and see the part these situations have played in your story.
3. Become willing to be strengthened by the pitfalls.
Imagine as if each lesson we derive from negative experiences is another tool to add to our tool belt. We can use our past to make us wiser, instead of holding us back from living each day to the fullest. Playing it smart is using each experience to our advantage. Let’s consider it all a blessing in disguise! You are stronger for all of the experiences that have challenged you, and you are now more equipped.
When you find yourself healing from disappointment, remember to be patient. It’s important to allow yourself to feel the feelings prior to moving forward. Bottling things up usually results in them re-emerging from the jungle at a later time. Your life is important, you have a purpose here, and the way you feel dictates the experiences you bring into your reality. Once we are ready to rise up, we are ready to launch forward into greatness!
