“You drown not by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it.”

 

Too often, we allow ourselves to sink in misery while we could pull ourselves out of it.

Even though we all face bad days and challenging situations, we can always choose how to deal with these difficulties.

We can accuse others, act like a victim, or even let small situations ruin an entire day. But we can also do the opposite by taking responsibility, accepting that shit happened, and embracing life just the way it is.

How to apply it:

Next time you find yourself in a difficult situation, pause for a moment. Take a few minutes and write down all the different opportunities you have on how to deal with that challenging situation.

Sometimes, structuring different opportunities to solve a problem and approaching it systematically can lead to more relief than anything else.

You can always drown in self-pity and act like a victim. But most of the time, you can also take action and make a change.

Maybe you can call a friend or family member and ask for help? Or ask for professional advice?

And sometimes, a few calm moments, a long walk, or a good cup of coffee with a beloved friend are all we need to find our way back to reality and acknowledge all the beauty of life.

Paulo Coelho