10 back to basics moves for when life is hard…again.

Maybe this is for you…or maybe it is for someone you know. So many are fighting battles they never share.

The last couple of days were harder than I’ve had in over 7 years. The I can’t breathe kind of hard again. It wasn’t anything knew or different, but it was something that someone said in a support group. It was something I think I knew in my head, but my heart caught it this time. And just like at the beginning, I couldn’t breathe.

She made a simple remark, probably just thinking out loud, to someone about how much her spouse has changed in the last 3 or 4 years. Rocketman has changed. A lot. Like mind blowing a lot. But I noted the date in my head of when he lost his job. Not about when, but I did the math. Because in my head, this seems like 5 or 10 years ago since he’s been home. It seems forever. It was September of 2014. Less than 3 1/2 years ago. The change is mind blowing. My mind did what no one fighting this disease should do. I thought ahead, wondering where we would be in the next 3 1/2 years. Don’t do that when you are dealing with a fatal disease with no cure. Just don’t.

So this week, I’m back to basics. It’s times like this I’m thankful for the tools I’ve learned to use in the previous valleys. And I’m thankful for a friend who distracts me in the wee hours of the morning and all through the day with business stuff, never even realizing that a distraction and diversion is what I need the most. I’m thankful for the friend who gets me out of the house, so I remember what normal is like. And I’m thankful for all the online friends who I do count as true, real life friends. And I’m thankful for the God who continually reminds me through all the times that He has shown up that grace for hard times is never given early, but it is always on time. I can’t deal with it today, because I’m not really there yet. Maybe in my mind, but not really there yet. When I am, it will be there, too. I cannot deal with tomorrow’s valleys with grace that was only allotted for today’s troubles. We have to keep coming back for the grace we need for each day’s valleys.

10 Things to Do When Life Is Hard…Again

Back to Basic Moves to Move You Forward

1. Listen to positive podcasts, CDs, DVDs, etc. Every single day.
2. Create a gratitude/praise journal. Try to add three things every day. It’s pretty easy to find that first one, but the act of trying to look for and find other positive things is a crucial habit to build.
3. Breathe. Slow your breathing down to slow, calming breaths. Trust me. If you’ve hit a valley, you will know what I am talking about here.
4. Focus on what is going on around you in this moment. Continually bring your head back to this moment.
5. Create a list of fun things. I know it’s probably hard right now. Just start.
6. Create comforting spaces. Peaceful spaces with soft blankets and pillows. Maybe even a weighted blanket.
7. Try a natural supplement for calming your body.
8. Watch your favorite shows and movies that make you laugh. It’s like medicine for your soul.
9. Let diversions and distractions be your best friend right now. Anything that disrupts the circuit.
10. Move. It creates forward, positive, and empowered momentum. Get your 10k steps in or whatever you can do.
11. And always know that it is okay to seek professional help. Sometimes we need a little help until we learn some things to do that can help and get us through the hard parts.

Dear Beautiful Warriors…

My beautiful warriors, it’s not always a sprint. Sometimes it is a marathon. A long, hard race. Going back to basics is not a failure. It’s experience and wisdom. The last time this took months and months to get out of it. This time I am making my way out after a couple of days. Yes, it may forever change me, just as it did last time, but I’m finding my way out of the valley as much as I can on this journey.  We have to adjust and accept new normals to move forward and create pockets of beauty. Maybe this is for you, or maybe it is for someone you know. Please share. Sometimes people are broken and walking through the hard stuff without most of us even knowing about it.

Sometimes the journey is real and raw. And hard as hell. I’m not sure why it seems some of us were chosen for this. I just want to say to all of my beautiful warriors that you are not alone. And you’ve got this.

Click here for free, printable downloads to help you get unstuck and to create a beautiful life. You’ve got this, beautiful warrior.