Lemons to Lemonade
{Don’t wait for tough times to go away, find out how to grow through them & flourish}
Tough times are inevitable in life
You are bound to face some troubles with finances, health or even family in life. For instance, it’s safe to say that you’ll be relatively broke at some point in your life. It’s only the level of being broke that’ll vary.
You might have no savings, no cash to spend nor assets that bring in money.
Another might be in debt; While others might just have their money tied up in other investments meaning they are not liquid enough.
Silver linings
Bottom line is being broke is bad.
It speaks to your financial failures, bad decisions, lack of planning and possibly bad spending habits.
Since they are inevitable, how can we capitalize on them?
Every cloud has a silver lining. So, how can you grow from such a situation? Is it even possible to do so?
Yes, you can.
You can grow from adversity if you:
1. Make strategic Plans
I usually find that adversity gives me clarity. Especially in terms of my priorities. It usually reminds me of the things I should have prioritized but didn’t. Albeit this usually comes in form of painful regrets but still, it serves the purpose. With this clarity, it’s easier for me to make plans focusing on my priorities.
2. Plug your leaks
It is during financial lows that I usually recall how I stupidly spent my money. These are the few times I wish I could step out of my body for a few seconds and smack some sense into me. Being broke shows me where my money has been going, especially the places it wasn’t supposed to go in the first place. This gives me a chance to seal these leaks.
3. Weed out distractions
You can do big things only if you focus on your priorities consistently for long enough, but your distractions often stop you.
It’s a good thing adversity rids you of these distractions. When I’m broke, I can’t spend time scrolling aimlessly online. I lose interest in meaningless things that would normally occupy my time. Even the people I used to hang out with, disappear which gives me time to focus.
If you are like me, then you need to use this time to note all these down. All the people missing in your life, all the pointless activities such as binge watching your favorite series.
Afterwards, gradually minimize the time you spend on them. Cut them off slowly. Which will be so easy since most of them disassociate with you as soon as things begin going south for you. Don’t go looking for them when things start getting better. Don’t increase TV time as soon as you can afford to reactivate your Netflix account.
Weed out these distractions and earn your freedom.
4. Work on yourself
Take your newfound freedom and use it to build yourself. If you can’t afford to renew your Netflix subscription, use that time to read a book. Build your skills, learn a new language on Duolingo.
You can’t afford to go out with your friends? Stay at home and help your spouse with the chores. Help the kids with their homework. Invest your time in your loved ones.
5. Express gratitude
Finally, be grateful. Grateful in adversity! Ironic right? Actually, hard times are the best for gratitude. They help you to identify and appreciate what you have despite what ‘s lacking. In doing so, it puts you in the right mindset to make the most what you have.
There is so much in life to appreciate. All you need to do is train your mind to look for it in the right places by practicing gratitude. And the best time to start is when going through tough times.
In conclusion
There is so much more to tough times than plain suffering. With the right mindset and attitude, you can learn and grow.
I usually find the burden of my dark times more bearable when I learn something from the situation. Not that the adversity goes away, but somehow, I handle it better once I know the reason for the pain.
At the gym, the soreness subsides with every workout session and eventually the weight that used to give you days of pain becomes bearable. Soon enough, you feel no pain. Why and yet the source of the pain is still there?
Over the time, you’ve built your body’s capacity to withstand that source of pain, the weight. You muscles are now well — adapted to handle it with ease.
In other words, you’ve grown through that pain.
So, use the hard times in life as your personal gym and grow.
Till next time,
from yours truly,
GP.
