Try these ideas to tap into your inner strength whenever the going gets tough:

1. Take some time to think about the present dilemma. What do you see as the real issue? Are you making a mountain out of a mole-hill? How can you focus your efforts on tackling the current event that’s worrying you?

 

2. Acknowledge your fears about the troublesome situation. Before you can show resilience to move forward, it’s essential to recognize any fears that have a bearing on your current circumstances. What’s more, ignoring your fears will only serve to hold you back from confronting the issue. It’s here you often can feel stuck.

 

3. Consider every option. Writing down your choices for overcoming your challenge will help you see the situation from all angles. As you sort through them, develop the pros and cons, identify the deal-breakers, and where you draw the line.
• Brainstorm as many options as you can because it’s an excellent start to finding a workable solution.
• Be open-minded. It’s good to remember that there’s usually more than one way around a problem. When you automatically screen out possible alternatives to a sticky situation, you could be overlooking a good one. Therefore, it’s best to allow yourself to consider every viable possibility.
• The result is you build resilience, which comes from being flexible. And you build inner strength by being open to options.

 

4. Approach the challenge with positivity. It may sound over-simplified, but you have a choice of how to look at every circumstance you face. You either can approach a stumbling block thinking, “I don’t think I’m going to survive this,” or you could say to yourself, “I’m going to do whatever it takes and make my way through this situation.” Having a positive outlook will motivate you to move forward through the crisis. Be optimistic!

 

5. Avoid looking too far ahead. That means, focus on what’s going on in this moment. Sometimes, it helps to make it through one hour at a time.
• Focus your energy on what’s most important and on what you can do at this moment.
  

 

6. Believe in yourself. Draw from your faith, your values, and your intuition to help you through. Spirituality regularly assists millions of people to live consistently healthy, happy lives. Leaning on foundational blocks like these will bring you the inner strength you seek.

 

7. Ask for emotional and moral support from those in your inner circle. Any troubling event is easier to navigate when you feel the love and encouragement from someone close to you. Bolster your “resilience reserves” by getting a little help from your mentors, friends, and family.
• Although it might be difficult for you to reach out and say, “I’m struggling,” look at it this way: those you’ve chosen to have in your inner circle want to be there for you. So, accept the loving and supportive care that those you trust are so willing to provide. Don’t worry about being a burden; you’ll likely have a chance to reciprocate in the future.

 

8. Soothe your spirit. What calms you? Are there activities that bring you peace and joy? Take time to participate in your favorite hobbies to soothe your frayed emotions.
• Taking a walk in the woods, swimming a few laps at the pool, or creating art, music, or handcrafts can be some of the most self-soothing things you can do when you’re experiencing a challenging life event.

 

9. Embrace your inner strength. Remember that you have powered through many crises in the past. Think about what they were and what you did to get to the other side. Those skills are still yours. Let them sustain you now. And have confidence that they can continue to bolster you through many more crunches in life.

Life can be exhilarating, engaging, and exciting—with a few challenges thrown in for good measure. When you meet up with an obstacle in your path, allow your resilience to shine and help you bounce back better, stronger, and faster than before.

The previously learned skills and strategies you dust off and put into practice can help you draw on your inner strength to step into your power. That means you get to live a meaningful, enriched existence, no matter what type of challenge you encounter. You deserve that.
 

Take the First Step

If you struggle to find your inner strength when the going gets tough, and you’re unsure about how to move beyond it, you may wonder if it’s even possible.  Making choices that move you forward can be challenging and getting some guidance may be just what you need.  Start by exploring how change can impact you. And learn how to move through it with more dignity and grace by reading my free book. Click here to take the first step: From Darkness to Light: Learning to Adapt to Change and Move Through Transition.