When times get tough, it can be hard to keep going. Here are some motivational tips to help you get through the tough times and help you keep on going until you thrive again. I will also share my favorite inspirational quotes about getting through tough times. When you are facing difficult situations, breathe, read this, and take things one day at a time. You can get through this part of life or this stressful situation and find true happiness again. I don’t say this lightly. At 46 years of age, I have gotten several hard patches where things felt too difficult to face. With effort and intention, I turned things around and you can do so too.
When Things Get Tough
When you’re up against what feels like insurmountable circumstances it can be tempting to toss your sneakers in your gym bag and walk off the field. Don’t give in to these negative thoughts during difficult times.
Giving up is easy. Life isn’t.
But you’re smart. You’re hard working. Your friends, spouse and kids respect you. And everything you have, you achieved because you’re a determined, bright and confident person.
You knew that, though, and it’s still not any easier to cope with what you’re up against. Maybe you lost your job or someone close to you fell ill. Or maybe it’s just one of those weeks—or months—when the little things keep piling up until the proverbial camel’s back is dangerously close to snapping.
If telling yourself that this, too, shall pass isn’t enough to shake the negative emotions, you need to take some action. Here’s what to do in a tough situation.
5 Motivational Tips For Getting Through Hard Times
Getting through tough times can be challenging, but there are strategies that may help you cope and navigate difficult situations. Here are some suggestions.
Accept Your Feelings
It’s okay to feel a range of emotions during tough times, including sadness, anger, frustration, or fear. Accepting and acknowledging your feelings is the first step towards dealing with them. If you are feeling a strong emotion, you need to sit with it for awhile and try to figure out what it is communicating to you. Anger may be saying you need to defend yourself. Guilt may be saying you need to fix your behavior. Sadness may mean you have to learn to deal with loss and grief. All feelings are important and have value and purpose.
Take care of yourself
As a human being, we have all had a bad day. But it is hard when they just keep coming. Whether you are having hard days or in times of crisis, we all reach a point where we feel our strength slipping. Not even Michael Phelps can tread water forever. Trying to keep your head above the surface while life keeps tossing waves at you can get you feeling like a pretty terrible swimmer.
In fact, it can convince you that you’re just a downright terrible person.
When things get hard, you get depressed. That’s natural. And when you’re depressed, it’s a lot more difficult to find the motivation to do even the simplest things like cook a healthy meal, style your hair, or change into something that can’t double as pajamas.
But do them anyway- walk, run, exercise, go for a bike ride, lose weight if you need to, get out there and experience life. Nutritional expert Isabel De Los Rios has countless stories of mothers who felt like the world was crashing down on them, only to turn it all around through putting themselves (and their health) first.
Eat. Get some sleep. Take pride in your appearance. Maybe it sounds like added stress, but it’s the physical and emotional boost you need to stay afloat through this. So first and foremost, take care of yourself! The only way out of the current crisis, is to keep going. It is like that quote from Winston Churchill, “When you are going through hell, keep going“.
Count your blessings
Literally. Gratitude is powerful. Make a list of everything good in your life—the big stuff, the little stuff, the silly stuff. If it makes you happy, put it on your list. Your kids, spouse and home are probably no-brainers. Your dog? Cat? Iguana? Throw him on there, too.
And don’t forget your grandma’s amazing lemon icebox recipe; your wedding photos; the way your daughter’s head smelled when she was six months old.
Anything that has brought you joy, anything that you’re grateful for, put it down on paper. Don’t be afraid to get crafty and glue some photos or trinkets on there, too. Then, hang it somewhere—like the fridge, or your office—so you can glance at it now and then and remind yourself that life is wonderful no matter how awful it may be right now.
There is always something to be grateful for and sometimes it is easiest to focus on the small details. The cool pattern the walls of the tent make, the way the sun pokes around the clouds, the pretty color green of new buds. Those type of details sometimes pull me into the present moment when I am getting lost in the past.
Gratitude can also help place things into perspective. Whatever is tough for you right now may be small in comparison to all the good you have in your life.
Ask yourself how much it will really matter in a year’s time. Focus on the important things in your life and remember we are fortunate to have each new day. Also remember that even though we may not be able to see it at the time, maybe a new door is opening for us. Maybe everything happens for a reason, even if we don’t know or understand the reason.
Relax. Now!
The worst thing to do to yourself when you’re overwhelmed is add weight to an already unbearable pile. Most of us think that staying busy is the best way to distract from whatever obstacle we’re up against, but knowing when to hang up your cape and let someone else fight the battles is a really crucial skill to overcoming adversity.
If you don’t power yourself back up with ten minutes of deep breathing a day, you’ll lose your mind. No matter what you’re facing, there’s always time to give your mind and body a few minutes of peace. So take a walk, a bath soak, a nap or meditate.
I particularly find the below Wayne Dyer meditation music helpful for relaxing. It helps me recenter.
Take out the trash
On the opposite side of that same coin, find a constructive way to handle all your negative energy. Maybe your finances are a puzzle you can’t seem to solve, or your marriage is in a rut. Or maybe your son just brought home a bad report card. Whatever’s filling you with angst, find a useful way to drain it.
My suggestion? Declutter your room. Or your garage. Your basement, storage shed, or under the guest room bed. Wherever unwanted crap piles up in your home, attack it.
This constructive use of excess energy will keep your mind off whatever issue happens to be monopolizing your mental energy, allowing you to revisit it later on with a fresh set of eyes.
Plus, getting rid of some of the crap in your life is always uplifting.
Practice some altruism
Whether you offer to babysit the neighbor’s kids while they’re at a movie, or offer up your time at a soup kitchen, find a way to help other people out with absolutely no gain for yourself.
Look, when things feel too big to manage, a new perspective can shrink them back down to size. If you feel like you can’t fix whatever’s beating you down, fix something else. Reminding yourself that you’re a competent, compassionate person might be the jumpstart you need to get out of whatever rut you’re broken down in.
One bonus tip?
Look in the mirror and smile. Smiling can actually trick your brain into happiness! Besides, you don’t want to forget how to smile.
Troubled times keep life interesting. As long as we are learning life lessons, we are progressing. I am also going to share a few of my favorite when times are tough quotes to help inspire you to to, “just keep swimming.”
Getting Through Tough Times Quotes
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.” -Mary Anne Radmacher
“Believe in yourself, trust your gut, surround yourself with resilient people who inspire you to be better and work hard.” -Monique Hicks
“Conflict is growth trying to happen.” -Harville Hendrix
“I think you need to go through some stuff to really appreciate life and understand what it means to persevere, overcome and have faith. I think those tough times make you a stronger person.” -Judith Hill
“Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.” -Bernice Johnson Reagon
“When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.” -Alexander Graham Bell
“Tough times don’t last, tough people do.” -Robert Schuller
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.
“You need to spend time crawling alone through shadows to truly appreciate what it is to stand in the sun.” -Shaun Hick
“We must meet the challenge rather than wish it were not before us.” -William J. Brennan
“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” -Henry Ford
“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” -Maya Angelou
“Some people won’t love you, no matter what you do. Some people won’t STOP loving you, no matter what you do. Go where the love is.” -Eleanor Brownn
Which of these tough times quotes are your favorite quotes?
How To Get Through Tough Times Conclusion
Sometimes you just need a little motivation when things are tough to keep going. I hope you found these motivational tips helpful for getting through hard times. Bad times come to us all and you just have to keep going. I sometimes picture Atreyu struggling to get through the Swamp of Sadness in the Never Ending Story. It feels like that sometimes, but you don’t want to let yourself be swallowed up like Artax. It is worth fighting to find your inner strength. You’ll get through it and you’ll be stronger. Of my favorite when times are tough quotes that I shared above, my absolute favorite is the one from Mary Anne Radmacher. Tomorrow is a whole new day! There will be good times coming in the days ahead.
To me, the best advice for how to get through tough times, is to remember that this will pass. Things will change. Going through tough times won’t last forever. You can get to the other side of life’s failures and disappointments.
If you’re struggling to cope, consider seeking the assistance of a mental health professional. They can provide guidance, support, and coping strategies tailored to your specific situation. It’s a sign of strength to reach out for support when needed. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are in crisis or have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Remember that everyone’s journey through tough times is unique. Connect with friends, family, or a support network. Talking to someone about what you’re going through can provide emotional support and help you feel less isolated. Do you have a quote that inspires you to keep going?
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Reese Evans says
Tough times will not stay for a long time. People should always have patience in tough times. You are not your life’s failures. Your current situation will change.
Break down your challenges into smaller, manageable goals. This can make daunting tasks more achievable and give you a sense of accomplishment as you progress.
Establishing a daily routine can bring a sense of stability and predictability to your life. It can be grounding during uncertain times.
I like this Winston Churchill quote. “”Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Thanks for the article.
Samantha says
Times are tough for me right now so I really appreciate this post. The advice and the quotes about getting through tough times are really good stuff. Dealing with negative people and negative events all at the same time makes me what to just give up. But I know you are right and that I will get through this if I just keeping going one day at a time, one foot in front of the other. Your words have made a big difference.