How to Cope When Bad Things Happen

It does not really matter who we are or what we do, from time to time, things go wrong. Most of us do not go around inviting unwanted trials into our lives. Still, from time to time we do need to cope with them. When we find ourselves in that kind of situation, our attitude will definitely influence how we view the experience. Having the right attitude increases our ability to cope and our emotional resourcefulness.

Nobody is immune, sometimes bad things just happen. When they do, it can easily turn your world upside down. But by if we have the skills to cope with unexpected challenges, we can get through them without going berserk.

Here are some helpful little attitude adjustments that can help you cope with challenging situations;

1. Detach yourself emotionally. Most of the emotions that grow out of negative situations are negative. When you refuse to be engaged emotionally, the situation becomes emotionally neutral. That means that you can cope with it rationally instead of reacting to it emotionally. This also changes how the experience is recorded in your memory and nervous system.

2. Forget about asking why. You can ask why later, for now focus on asking, “What’s the best way to cope with this challenge?” Your mind loves to solve problems. It will immediately go to work looking for the very best solution. This keeps your focus on creating a positive outcome.

3. Look for the value. There is almost always some value in challenging situations. The more we train ourselves to see the value in every experience, the more resourceful we will be when those experiences are challenging and unexpected. The truth is that we grow from facing challenges more than we would without them. I know, sometimes there are growing pains involved, but that’s just tuition in the school of life.

4. Ask for help. We can’t always get ourselves out of a mess. Don’t be afraid to ask those who are more knowledgeable for help or direction. Most of the time they are glad to help or at least point you in the right direction.

5. Remember, it’s temporary. One way or another, you will get through it. Every situation has a conclusion. Even if it’s not the conclusion you wanted, at least it will be over and you can start from there. If you have to rebuild some aspect of your life, you will probably do it better and faster than you did the last time.

6. As long as you are at it, upgrade. If something in your life falls apart, turn it to your advantage. One way to do this is by using your energy to upgrade rather than repair. It provides you with the opportunity to turn a setback into progress. So, the end result will put you ahead of where you were and that will mean that you actually benefited from the experience.

7. Role play. This is an effective tactic for removing yourself emotionally from a frustrating challenge. Pretend that you have been called in to handle the situation because of your calm demeanor. The person facing the challenge needs someone who is cool and capable to cope with it, and that is why you are there.

8. Laugh your way through it. Sometimes things get so ridiculous that it’s almost laughable. When that happens, go ahead and laugh. When you laugh at a stressful situation it provides a healthy outlet for your emotions. Laughter is a much better way to release that emotional stress and cope with a challenge than anger is.

9. Don’t take it personal. At times it can feel like you have been singled out to receive more than your share of hardships. Everybody faces more than enough challenges. Sometimes bad stuff just happens. Taking things personally just leads to excuses and blame and a whole host of other worthless thoughts and emotions. Don’t even go there, just learn to cope with it and move on.

Learning a few simple skills to help you cope resourcefully will help you turn challenges into opportunities. Having a positive perspective in this area will go a long way toward improving the quality of this journey we call life.

How do you cope when faced with challenges? Share your thoughts with us.