Remember…
Life is mainly good, but now and then everyone has a difficult or unhappy time. That’s a normal part of life- No-one is perfect. We all make mistakes and have limitations as well as strengths.
- Be mindful – stop and think, what are you feeding your brain. If it’s a negative thought, unrealistic and unhelpful catch it and, send it away, turn it into a positive, realistic and helpful thought.
- Seek support and talk to others when you are feeling down. Having friends or family to talk to can help you to keep things in perspective.
- When something goes wrong, it usually only affects one part of your life. Concentrate on the things in your life that are still going well.
- Bad situations nearly always get better. Sometimes they may take a bit longer to improve than you would like. Stay hopeful and work on the problem if you can.
- You will feel better and have more ideas about what you could do if you talk to someone you trust about what’s worrying or upsetting you.
- If a situation can’t be changed, accept that and try to move on. Don’t make yourself miserable by exaggerating how bad something is or by assuming that the worst possible picture is the one that will happen.
- If you can find something positive or funny in a difficult situation, no matter how small, it can help you to cope better.
- Don’t over-blame yourself because circumstances, bad luck or what others did may have contributed to a difficult or unhappy situation. Just take fair responsibility for the thing you have done or not done that contributed to the difficult situation.
- Everyone gets scared or nervous at times but not always about the same things. Facing your fears helps you to grow stronger. Talk to someone you trust, use your strengths and work out how limitations can be worked through so you can achieve goals.
- Don’t let yourself be ‘hijacked’ by your feelings so that you are no longer in charge of yourself. Calm yourself down first so you can think of the best way to deal with how you are feeling. That might mean parking the problem and doing something else in your life that’s going well. When you revisit the issue it is likely it will be much easier to deal with.
Adapted from the Bounce Back program: www.bounceback.com.au
