how to overcome major life challenges
I’ve spent the past two decades amassing some pretty awesome tools for getting through tough times. Still, nobody can prepare for every hardship that’s in store, including me.
After a beautiful pregnancy and birth, I experienced a debilitating bout of postpartum depression. There came a point when I felt completely powerless over what was happening to me. I was living in a very dark place with constant fear, anxiety, insomnia and agoraphobia. It was overwhelming.
Confronting a major life crisis makes you feel trapped and incapacitated. But I’m here to remind you that when it comes to overcoming challenges, there is ALWAYS a way forward (and often, more than one). Even when things seem hopeless.
in this episode I’ll share:
- 4 methods for working through hardship
- Ways to shift your mindset to survive (even thrive) in tough times
- How to build resilience so you can navigate life’s bumps better
- Deeply moving stories shared by members of my Melbourne, Australia, audience
4 strategies for overcoming challenges
Very few people emerged from the pandemic unscathed. The prevalence of anxiety and depression has skyrocketed worldwide in the aftermath of those surreal years.
If you’re one of the millions (it could even be billions) of people whose mental health is suffering, I’m very happy you landed here.
These straightforward methods for overcoming obstacles will raise your emotional and spiritual vibration, which will help give you the power you need to get past your darkest and most difficult days.
I have personally used each of these methods when I needed relief.
strategy 1
observe the uncomfortable feelings
When you get overwhelmed with a strong emotion, step back and try to identify what you’re feeling. Is it anger? Fear? Sadness? Rejection?
Observe what’s happening with compassion for yourself. There’s a reason you reacted this way, and your only purpose at this point is to locate that reason, without judgment. When you consciously connect the emotional and psychological dots that lead to big, disruptive feelings, you can better manage (and eventually, avoid) those triggers in the future.
If tuning in like this is too painful or traumatic, that’s okay. It’s your sign that you should seek the help of a therapist who is trained to help people resolve such embedded emotions. I’ve included a list of resources here.
strategy 2
pump the brakes on your self-imposed timeline
In my experience, a lot of stress is generated by the pressure people put on themselves to achieve certain milestones on a preset timeline—whether that’s getting married, writing a book or buying a car.
Maybe your life doesn’t look exactly the way you thought it would right now.
It’s normal to get bummed out—but don’t dwell there.
gabby
From an energetic POV, things move much faster when you’re actively grateful for where you are NOW and appreciative of the runway you still have to go even further.
Self-imposed deadlines are arbitrary! You made them up … and you can just as easily erase or adjust them. To really learn the skill of letting go, check this out.
strategy 3
take a body-centered approach
The mind-body connection has long been established—thoughts and feelings do affect our physical well-being. What’s important to acknowledge is that the impact can be either negative or positive. Let’s focus on positive change.
There’s a specific type of trauma recovery called Somatic Experiencing (SE), which I write about in my book Happy Days. This mind-body modality helps heal deeply rooted negative emotions that are stored in the body. Rather than focusing exclusively on the thoughts or emotions associated with a traumatic event, it expands to include the natural bodily responses.
Just as you would go to physical therapy to regain strength and mobility after breaking your leg, this kind of therapeutic support helps heal a broken nervous system. Using things such as movement, self-regulation and grounding techniques, SE reboots your brain to alleviate chronic pain and stress.
SE can also easily be integrated into other counseling services. Make sure to find a licensed and experienced mental health professional with training in SE techniques.
strategy 4
make big changes through small actions
What small daily actions can you take toward healing that will bolster your resilience and inner grace? Is it reading a passage of a book? Listening to a podcast? Going for a walk? Saying a prayer?
Lasting change usually doesn’t happen all at once. You need to have faith in your journey and keep taking the small, consistent steps that will prepare you for the bigger steps. Even just a 1% change every day can lead to a meaningful shift.
please remember, there is always hope
One of my wonderful guests in this episode, Liz, is an ICU nurse who worked through the most harrowing months of COVID. She’s proud of her work, but feels it’s affected her vibration and what she’s able to attract.
She’s not alone. Many of the nurses I’ve spoken to post-COVID are suffering from PTSD, even if they don’t call it that. They’ve endured so much. The main thing I recommend is Somatic Experiencing, because it’s such a powerful recovery tool.
I also encouraged Liz to actively seek out her most supportive friends and family members. The time to self-isolate is OVER.
Listen to this episode for more poignant stories and for guidance on overcoming challenges, no matter how insurmountable they seem. One thing I’m sure of is that the human spirit is astonishingly resilient.
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free meditation for anxiety relief
- Try my gabby coaching app for free —get access to hundreds of meditations, lessons and talks all in a beautifully designed app. Start your free trial to unlock your 7-day manifesting jumpstart!
- For a deeper dive check out my books.
- If you feel you need additional support, please consult this list of safety, recovery and mental health resources. I’m proud of you for your commitment to self-care.
disclaimer
This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and support you on your personal journey towards inner peace. I am not a psychologist or a medical doctor and do not offer any professional health or medical advice. If you are suffering from any psychological or medical conditions, please seek help from a qualified health professional.