From Denny: Have you ever taken note that some of the best quotes for encouraging us to take heart when faced with tough times always come from people who have experienced long term adversity? President Abraham Lincoln, president during the Civil War years and assassinated, knew adversity even before he came into office. He ran in 69 political races and finally won.
He was president over a bitterly divided country at war against itself far worse than we see now. Unbelievable but true. Lincoln also experienced the deep sorrow of losing a young son to illness while in the White House. The First Lady went into such grief that she never came out of mourning. All this going on inside his family while he still had a country to calm down and quit killing themselves.
To handle long term stress it helps to catch your balance by devising coping skills you can use on a daily, sometimes hourly basis. That can involve the little things that bring you joy and lift your spirits. It could be something as simple as cooking a favorite meal, trying out a new recipe, getting in the car and traveling some remote country road to take photos of whatever you happen to come upon. For some it could be playing a favorite sport like pick-up basketball every week at a regularly scheduled time, going to your kid's soccer games or joining an interest group where you can share what you are doing and be inspired by what other members are creating.
It also helps to create a long term strategy to help you through months and years of rebuilding your life. That involves systematically getting your head in the game with a life philosophy that helps create a strong mindset. We need the strong pivot point of a belief so we can securely plant our feet into that foundation to help us live practically day to day. Those thoughts keep us hopeful and positive. When times look grim we can refocus our thoughts upon our core beliefs to help settle our emotions and get through the day. In a long term strategy - to deal successfully with stress - it's all about getting through the moment, getting through the day to live another day. Each day adds up creating the moments of your life.
Eventually, Life improves and the worries fade away over time. It's the transition that can be difficult if you don't have a good plan. A good plan involves constantly filling yourself with positive thoughts while you deal with each day. Keeping your attitude balanced and positive is 90 percent of the battle. When you are in a good mood it helps you to see what steps to take next to resolve issues as you go through the process.
Most long term stressful situations require a series of steps involving problem-solving strategies. Just when you handle one problem it seems yet another arises. That's when you focus upon your successes. Take a good look at each problem and your success to see clearly the pattern of the journey of where the universe is guiding you. You will be amazed.
Quote
* It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: "And this, too, shall pass away." - President Abraham Lincoln
* When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place. - Anonymous
* Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't, I give myself reasons why I can. - Anonymous
*** SEE ALSO: Have You Ever Thought About The Process of Success?
*** SEE ALSO: Hope Transforms Our Lives in Tough Times
*** See Also: How Are Hopes, Dreams and Reality Related?
*** See Also: Where Does Hope Guide Us On Our Life Path?
*** See Also: Hope: Unborn Baby Grabs onto Doctors Hand in Surgery
*** See Also: Does Hope Touch Your Soul?
*** Photo by Victor Bezrukov @ flickr
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