Things to remember when life is in turmoil
Dealing with pain, turmoil and insecurity
Don’t feel bad about feeling bad. Don’t be frightened of feeling afraid. Don’t be angry about getting angry. There is no need to give up when we are feeling depressed. Nor should we be dismayed at the grief which often accompanies the outgrowing of anything which needs outgrowing. We can be glad that our soul is speaking to us and pushing us onwards. We frequently need to persevere with a period of inner turmoil before the dust can settle and be swept out the door.”
― Donna Goddard, The Love of Devotion
Things to Remember When Life Is in Turmoil
We all go through highs and lows in our life.
Sometimes it takes the lows for us to decide it’s time to focus on some self-improvement.
You might be feeling rejected, down, sad, and even a little depressed.
Remember this when life is in turmoil, what you need to do is ‘smile’ and not get caught up in all the negativity. Of course this is often easier said than done.
You can use these tough times as a time to learn.
Turmoil just isn’t a reason for you to stop living.
When Life is in Turmoil Remember..
Everyone has highs and lows in their life. Sometimes it takes the lows for us to decide it is time to focus on some self-improvement.
You might be feeling rejected, down, sad, even a little depressed. Remember this is when life is in turmoil, what you need is not get caught up in all the negativity. You can use these tough times as a time to learn.
Turmoil just isn’t a reason for you to stop living.It is inevitable that you are going to face heartaches and problems throughout your life.
These too shall pass.
You might be going through tough times right now, but it isn’t going to last forever. No matter what the problem, what turmoil you are facing, this too shall pass. At some point, you will look back and recognize the lesson that you were meant to learn.
In a few years, what ís going on will be nothing but a memory.
You might even look back and laugh or you might be incredibly thankful for what looked like a terrible ordeal at the time, because what came out of it was good and it made you stronger.
No matter what is going on in your life, keep in mind that much of what is going on right now will make up just a small percentage of your life. So, instead of letting it pull you into the darkness, think of what you can do to stay focused and strong.
What can you do today, in your life that will make positive changes.
Buddhism teaches that turmoil in life is caused by attachment, desire, and ignorance.
By practicing mindfulness and detachment, you can learn to navigate through the storm of life with grace and clarity.
Instead of resisting or trying to control the turbulence, Buddhists believe in accepting and letting go of the things that are causing turmoil. By cultivating compassion, patience, and wisdom, one can transform their suffering into a source of growth and understanding.
Meditation, prayer, and self-reflection are powerful tools that can help individuals find peace amidst chaos. Through these practices, one can learn to let go of their ego and connect with the present moment, finding solace in the truth that everything is impermanent and interconnected.
By embracing the imperfections and challenges of life with an open heart and mind, one can find liberation from suffering and turmoil. It is through acceptance, surrender, and inner peace that one can transcend the chaos and find true freedom.
When your life is in turmoil here’s ten things you can do to help…
1. Practice mindfulness: Stay present in the moment and observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment.
2. Take deep breaths: Use deep breathing techniques to calm your mind and body in times of stress.
3. Engage in meditation or prayer: Find quiet time to reflect, relax, and connect with your inner self.
4. Seek support: Reach out to friends, family, or a therapist for guidance and comfort during difficult times.
5. Exercise regularly: Physical activity can help reduce stress and promote overall well-being.
6. Practice self-care: Take time to nurture yourself through activities that bring you joy and relaxation.
7. Journal your thoughts and feelings: Expressing yourself through writing can help process emotions and gain clarity.
8. Set boundaries: Learn to say no to things that drain your energy and create more turmoil in your life.
9. Focus on gratitude: Shift your perspective by focusing on the positive aspects of your life, no matter how small.
10. Seek wisdom: Learn from your experiences and the teachings of Buddhism to develop a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you.
Life has plenty of beautiful moments but there is also pain as we grow and it is that pain that will actually make you stronger. You will endure the pain, because you understand that at the end of the day it will be worth it. You will learn how to overcome the pain ñ that will be part of your self improvement plan. From the pain, you will morph into a beautiful human being.
What you do need to remember is that the negativity of others isn’t your problem. You can be sure that over time there are going to be many people who let you down. During your difficult times, you will know who your real friends are. What you won’t need is the negativity of others who leave you feeling worse than you already do.
You want to have friends who lift you up, lift your spirits, even when your world seems to be collapsing.
Your world is ever changing and your self improvement can happen during both highs and lows.
“Sometimes painful things can teach us lessons that we didn’t think we needed to know.” – Amy Poehler
You are going to face heartaches and problems throughout your life, but in the words of the mystics “These things shall pass’.
There are some things you can do so that you can come out the other side with the issues resolved, dealt-with or put where they belong..
You might be going through tough times right now, but it isn’t going to last forever. Things will change – how they change will depend upon your thoughts, emotions and behaviours.
What we are talking about here is ‘snowflakes’ rather than ‘snow balls’
Something BAD happens, I mean really personally devastating – life changing.
This no trivial thing and does not deserve to be met with half-baked platitudes.
However, though the emotional distress and even physical pain, you can try to keep a perspective. That thing is a snowflake – at some point it will change, dissolve.
Some people will add all of their ‘snowflakes’ and compact them into a hard, resistant, snowball. Often the snowflakes that make-up the snowball are not really related. Our wonderfully creative minds envision ‘what ifs’ and ‘catastrophes’ rather than focusing on the specifics of the ‘bad thing’
Stay away from those who simply ‘sympathise’ in order to add their own negative prognostications and their ‘baggage’
What you do need to remember is that the negativity of others is not your problem.
You can be sure that over time there are going to be many people who let you down and build up your fears and concerns in order to serve themselves in someway.
During your difficult times, you will know who your real friends are. What you won’t need is the negativity of others who leave you feeling worse than you already do.
You want to have friends who lift you up, lift your spirits, even when your world seems to be collapsing.
You want friends who can keep you grounded on the step-by-step process of change and not offer vague, meaningless platitudes of ‘things will change’.
“Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.” – Kahlil Gibran
YOU KNOW that already and you will one day ‘feel it‘. But when you are in the dark and the cold you need a warm blanket and a light not the vague rhetoric of sympathy. Those who are empathic will ‘listen’ to your fears, needs and pains – they may offer practical ideas (a light and a blanket) all of which help to break the snowballs into snowflakes and create perspective
Things to remember …
Try to create snowballs from snowflakes – look at the ‘bad things’ as single pieces of a larger jigsaw of possibilities
Think about your feelings, thoughts and behaviours – try looking for solutions or options
Dismiss the sympathy but embrace empathy of others
Take considered action where you can
Recognise those things you can influence and those things you can’t
Try to be pragmatic and not catastrophic
Get support, if necessary, professional support.
Interesting Point:
"This too shall pass" is an adage about impermanence of Persian origin. It reflects the temporary nature, or ephemerality, of the human condition — that neither the negative nor the positive moments in life ever indefinitely last.