Since young, I have been quite the sheltered child. In a way, it is a blessing that I have not suffered any difficulties or setbacks that are worthy of any mention in this article. My family and I are happy (well, at least most of the time) and healthy. I don't have any life experiences that involve overcoming a life-threatening illness or regaining confidence after a devastating breakup, nor a rags-to-riches tale.
But of course, life isn't as smooth sailing as I would want it to be. However, any setbacks that I have experienced were pretty minor and there was nothing which I could not overcome. Maybe, I am a strong person in a way since I have managed to survive whatever ordeals life has thrown at me. Even though, I still deem them as insignificant as compared to what others are going through.
Being Positive About Your Situation No Matter How Bad It Seems
Comparing my life to that of a cancer survivor, a single mother struggling to make ends meet or in the latest case, a Syrian refugee trying to escape war, my problems are nothing. I guess it is this new sense of perspective; one that is more positive which has been extremely helpful.
Having a negative outlook is not only detrimental to your mental and emotional well being but also does not help with whatever issue you are facing. No matter how bad things seem to be, there are people out there having it worst off. So always remember to count your blessings, the ones that you tend to overlook when you are too focused on your shortcoming.
Throw A Pity Party
Being strong does not mean having to keep your emotions in check all the time. Get together with a close friend, rant about it. Shout, yell, curse or even cry all you want. In fact, crying should not be seen as a sign of weakness. Being able to cry it out, shows that you acknowledge your feelings, which in turn is a sign of strength to me.
According to Neuroscientist and tear researcher Dr. William H. Frey II, "crying is not only a human response to sorrow and frustration, it's a healthy one. Crying is a natural way to reduce emotional stress that, left unchecked, has negative physical effects on the body, including increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and other stress-related disorders.” Therefore, it is healthy to cry instead of keeping it all bottled up inside.
So stay in bed and cry your heart out, you would feel much better after that. Remind yourself to pick up the pieces and move on after that good cry (or several).
Never Give Up
When you talk about strong individuals, you noticed that they all share this one thing in common and that is, never giving up. Life may not be kind to you but you should not let your circumstances dictate it. Instead, find the opportunity to rise above your problems. It is important to keep your head up while finding a way out.