4 Ways to Fight Discouragement

Sometimes in life, we go through experiences which put us down. You really wanted that job but didn’t get it, you wanted to break a drinking habit but failed, you wanted to do something special for someone but things didn’t go as planned.

It happens and it’s normal, but it puts us in a state of sadness. So what do you do to overcome this? Well, we’re gonna explore just that in this article.

1. Avoid Self-Pity

If you’re going through hard times, the number one thing you want to avoid is self-pity. It’s when you start feeling bad about yourself or your situation and start grumbling. You complain about all the things that suck or are going bad. You’re in a state of negativity and hopelessness.

The main problem with this mindset is that it’s unproductive. You sink yourself into the couch, mindlessly watch TV, start emotional eating, withdraw to your bed, and so on.

All of these behaviours clearly won’t help improve your circumstances. If anything, it will make things worse since you’ll feel bad for not doing anything or defeating your progress (if you were dieting, for example).

So what should you do instead?

2. Be Grateful for the Good Things in Your Life

During moments of disappointment, you need to refresh yourself by focussing on things you’re grateful for. Show some gratitude!

No matter what your situation, there is always something to be grateful for. Maybe you have a family that cares about you, or you have supportive friends, or you have something as simple as a roof over your head, food to eat and water to drink.

And if you’re struggling with that, hey, you’re still alive and breathing! So many people out there are either dying or dead but you’re still going, there is still hope.

So just the fact that you’re still living means that you have opportunities to bring about change and push life in the direction of your goals.

3. Take a Break

If you’ve worked your butt off and tried your best but still face failures, it’s okay, take some rest.

Sometimes, just a bit of relaxation and time away from work can rejuvenate you and get your spirits up again.

It doesn’t have to be too long – a day’s break can also be sufficient. But if you really need it and can afford to, take a vacation and rid yourself of that feeling of dejection.

4. Talk to Someone Supportive

Your parents, a trusted friend or older person or your partner are some of your options. Sometimes, just expressing your disappointment to someone you trust and who will encourage you can help you get out of a low state.

You can either pour out to them or get helpful advice. If you feel you just need to vent to someone or express your pain, tell them that you only need them to listen.

If, on the other hand, you think you could do well with getting some insight on your situation, then go ahead and tell them you want their advice. Sometimes, the right person can offer you words of wisdom that can change your perspective on the issue, so that you can be less affected by it.

So don’t remain down, dust yourself off and start walking on that road of recovery.

Have any additional advice or perspectives? Feel free to share in the comments.

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