Achieving success in life isn't about avoiding hard times. It's about handling them effectively.
In order to grow, we need to learn from our past experiences and move forward without allowing them to hold us back. While it's normal to feel sad, confused, or angry following a negative experience, it's important to remember how to keep moving forward in spite of what has happened.
Here are some tips and strategies for handling painful memories and emotions:
- Practice Acceptance
The biggest struggle most people face is when they find themselves feeling hopeless or upset after a trauma. For some, the feelings don't go away until they confront the issues, which causes further emotional distress.
Accepting an upsetting or traumatic event as just that – an unpleasant experience – can make the initial distress much easier to deal with.
- Don't Dwell on What Happened
It's very common to spend years thinking, talking, or writing about traumatic events. However, once the emotion has subsided, it's not healthy to dwell on old hurts.
The truth is, your feelings will change over time. Eventually, the memories and feelings you experienced will fade away. Don't let that happen!
- Remember Why It Happened
Traumatic events in our lives occur for a reason. It may not be clear at first, but once the emotions subside, it will become clear.
Try to remember the reasons why you went through a difficult experience. In this way, you'll be able to prevent yourself from going through the same event again.
- Rely on Others
As difficult as it may be to accept a painful event, others who have been through similar situations can offer support and encouragement.
Some people prefer to avoid talking about their traumas, so it's best to approach them in a supportive way.
- Find Ways to Emotionally Support Yourself
Many times, people feel isolated and cut off from others after suffering a trauma. This is especially true for those who experienced abuse.
The best way to keep moving forward after experiencing a painful event is to take advantage of social support.
Find groups and forums that are based on your interests. You can also join local or online communities to find other people with similar challenges.
While the road to growth can be a bumpy one, it's never impossible. All it takes is learning from your mistakes and moving forward.