Lifestyles Ideas Management – Getting out of the Rut

Life is full of pressure and problems.
Most of us believe that we have limited resources – time, money and energy. Yet, we are faced with mounting responsibilities, meeting deadlines, paying bills and playing different roles in life. Each role that we play comes with high expectations. Our bosses and customers want our highest productivity; partners want our best attention; parents, children, friends – everyone wants a piece of us.
Six years ago I sat in my room looking at bills for the mortgage, car payments, my children’s school fees and also, my overdraft. I felt tired and afraid.
Being a single mum, not only was I dealing with my emotional pain, but I was dealing with financial pressure.
Pressures in life can be so overwhelming that people begin to have thoughts of suicide. Some people break down, withdraw themselves from others, become aggressive or harm themselves with wounds, alcohol, drugs and reckless habits.
Today, I look back to those moments of despair and am thankful for the choices I made to get myself out of the rut. I am glad I did not stay miserable. My training in psychology gave me some tools. Having faith gave me some inner strength, with these, I started to reduce my pressure, and created progress for myself.

1. A regular thanksgiving
One choice I made was to count my blessings. Every night I would sit on my bed surrounded by my children and write in a little notebook: “ today I am thankful for..”
My children called that book “mummy’s thankful diary” We would list things we were thankful for – ice cream, smiles, hugs, etc. We learned to focus our minds on what we had rather than what we did not have.
Giving yourself five minutes to list down people, things, experiences that you are grateful for allows you to acknowledge your progress and the support you have, and whatever successes you have, no matter how small they seem to you.

2. My own definition of success
I chose not to compare my status in life with others.
I set small actionable goals, for examples, to exercise for twenty minutes, to have dinner with my parents, and to organize a camp for the underprivileged.
Every time I achieved a small goal, I stopped and gave myself a pat on my back. This grew my confidence and I began to set bigger goals like to write a book, start a business, and to snowboard.

I believe that we make the best possible choice at the moment, and we may make another choice at another moment in time. Choices many not reduce stress and pressure. But by owning the choice, and not blaming others, we would be responsible for making those choices. And the best part? Owning our choices is empowering.
Adapted from Wand Inspiration and an author of 22 books