“When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.” As we all know, that’s a lot easier said than done, not to mention completely unrealistic.
In my opinion, how the proverb should go is, “When the going gets tough, it’s tough to get going but just take it one step at a time and you’ll be okay.” Though that definitely does not have the same ring to it compared to the original.
We’re all human and we’ve all been through the wringer enough times to know that it’s hard to stay positive when we encounter complications and hardship. And there are some people who will tell you it’s high nigh impossible as well. But it’s really not.
It can be as simple as rocking your favourite outfit, regardless if you’re staying in for some alone time or if you have plans for a night out to paint the town red with some good mates of yours. When you wear something that makes you look good, you’ll feel invincible, unstoppable. Don’t underestimate the confidence-boosting power of a bomb outfit.
Fashion aside, what’s more important is to be kind to yourself. When it seems like the whole world is against you, it really wouldn’t help for you to be against yourself as well, would it? Figure out the little things that make you happy like maybe shopping or painting or even watching episodes of The Great British Bake Off (a personal favourite). Self-care is often taken for granted but it might just be what you need to turn that frown upside down. So if you’re ever feeling emotionally battered and bruised, take some time away from your problems and indulge in some soul-healing me time.
As the tides constantly change, so will your life. And that is why you must have a sense of purpose and direction, or risk swimming in rough waters completely disorientated and unprepared. In order to maintain a clear head, it would help if you made lists, be it to-do lists or shopping lists, and learn to prioritise the important things in your life. Knowing what you have to do and what you care about will help you to keep afloat, conquer the waves and stay positive about your current predicament.
Some words of advice that everyone should live by – the grass is not always greener on the other side. Comparison is the mother of negativity, in my opinion, and when you’ve already had a particularly trying day, the worst thing you could do is dampen your mood even further by envying some rich and famous person. Does being jealous about someone else’s successes progress you any further in life? I think not. So, focus on yourself. Learn to count your blessings and appreciate all the good things that you have instead of being bitter about what you don’t.
Life is like a rough windy road up a rocky mountain and the path on the way to the top is full of obstacles but when you hit a particularly rattling speed bump, it’s up to you to get yourself back on track again. It’s tough and you might end up taking a detour or two but remember that what’s at the end is well worth it.
j . 