Stay motivated and bounce back from difficult situations

I would love for you to pause for a moment and visualise an ant lifting a big log. You know how small an ant is, and you know the many dangers that the ant faces every day. There are insects that love to eat ants, and there are humans who love to crush ants. But does that stop the ant from staying motivated to carry out its work? No, the ant is always on a mission to achieve its goals. The ant never gives up until that mission is accomplished. There are many lessons that we can learn from the ant about staying motivated and bouncing back from any difficult situation.

It’s been months since the COVID-19 hit Jamaica and it seems like a whole year or longer period has passed already because so many things have happened. This has indeed been the year of plenty and we hope that the plenty will eventually turn into plenty good things. The world is experiencing a pandemic, the island is contending with curfews because of the increased spread. There are serious repercussions in the economy as the corona virus aka COVID-19 wreaks havoc on planet Earth. Many businesses are negatively affected, the hospitals and all healthcare facilities are overwhelmed, and people are in a state of panic. Fear fills the air, and if people could move to another planet, they would.

The Government is working very hard to keep it under control, but it has not been easy at all. We have to come together as a people and play our part. Life will not be the same. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, supermarket staff, police, and soldiers are on the front line risking their lives. Parents are now homeschooling, and they are stressed. We didn’t seem to understand the huge role that teachers play. Employers, employees, and entrepreneurs all around the world are affected by this virus. There are now many more expenses than income, and if you know some amount of accounting, you will know that when expenses are more than income, the business will experience a loss. There are losses of many kinds, not only financial losses. People are hungry, sick, depressed, and dying. Some persons do not know where the next meal is coming from. Many persons are unable to pay their bills. Financial institutions are being asked to give moratoriums, waive interest and late fees. It is a very serious time that we are living in, but should we throw in the towel and say we give up? No, giving up is not the answer. We are a strong and creative set of people. We have to find ways to encourage ourselves and stay motivated. This is not the end.

There are many stories that are extremely inspiring and filled with messages of being resilient. We need to read as many as we can and listen to inspirational audio books and motivational messages. It is very important for us to stay motivated and have a positive mindset. Martin Luther King Junior said: “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”

FIND A WAY TO GET IT

When you really want something, you have to find a way to get it. You can’t afford to make any excuses. When you want to win, you have to stay motivated to overcome the challenges to win. Within you is the source to all that you need. God is the source. He is the source of all power, strength, and peace. We have to reach within to connect with Him.

There are going to be difficult times and sometimes less-challenging times. There is a constant ebb and flow to life and the situations and experiences that come your way. In life, there are four seasons: winter, spring, summer, and autumn. The seasons change. There is never one season lasting for the entire year. The seasons come and go, and there are positives and negatives that come with each season. But your aim is to focus on the positives and stay motivated. Through it all, you always have a choice. Do you cope with the more difficult situations from a place of fear or from a place of faith?

With fear, this coping can be destructive. It can be in the form of drugs, alcohol, isolation, and other destructive behaviours, but there is hope. Your coping can be from a place of faith. It means that you can understand the concept that “this too shall pass”. Nothing lasts forever. There is a time or season for different things. So repel the thought that things will never change, and look for the light at the end of the tunnel.

I encourage you to develop a positive mental attitude and surround yourself with positive people, things, and messages as much as you can. Stay motivated! Always remember that you have within you the patience, the strength, and the passion to carry out your true purpose and to change the world. Winners are not people who never fail, but people who never give up. Just when the caterpillar thought that the world was over, it became a butterfly. Be optimistic!

FAITH BIGGER THAN FEARS

Let your faith be bigger than your fears. Tough times truly don’t last, it’s tough people that do. Be grateful and happy when you wake up in the morning. Think about the precious blessing that you have to be alive, breathe, think, and do something great. Not all were given the privilege of waking up to see another day.

Being resilient is a very powerful thing. Resiliency is much more than coping with difficult situations. It is thriving in both the small and big challenges in life and coming through them stronger than before. It is the emotional strength that helps you recover speedily and wholly from change. Resiliency can help a person to bounce back from any crisis. Just as roses from spring are capable of blooming and thriving after a long winter season, so can the resilient person bounce back after a difficult situation such as the death of a loved one, divorce, financial setback, or sudden illness.

Above all, the important thing to remember is that you are not alone. No matter how embarrassed you feel about your situation, there is someone in your life who has dealt with similar emotions and who wants to help you. When you hear yourself say, “I am alone,” it’s just your insecurities trying to discourage you. Don’t be discouraged.

You are more than whatever is stressing you. Think of the most difficult challenge you face right now. Imagine that it’s not you, but a close friend who is facing this challenge. What advice would you give to him/her? If you could step back ,and, instead of being the subject, look at your situation as an objective observer, would you view it any differently? Think of the advice you would give your friend or relative if he/she were in your shoes. Are you taking your own best advice right now? Sometimes you just have to encourage yourself.

Live each day one step at a time. Just because yesterday was a bad day doesn’t mean today will be a bad day, too. Today, you have the opportunity to have the best day ever. Give yourself the permission to explore, grow, and develop into the best version of you. The journey is not always a smooth road. There will be potholes, but that should not stop you from reaching your destination. There are ways to get around the potholes of life. Stay motivated and never give up.

- Erika Heslop Martin is an instructor and author. Send feedback to elegant_erika@hotmail.com.