We all know that life goes in cycles. Sometimes things are on an upswing and you’re going through a cycle where everything is going great; other times, it appears that things are going on a downward spiral and nothing is going your way. During those difficult times, it’s hard to keep motivated and hard to keep going because the stress is neverending that we may ask ourselves, ‘Is it worth it?’
Is it worth all the pressure for us to keep going? Is it worth the sleepless nights, or the anxiety or the overwhelming tiredness that comes with such a heavy workload?
The answer is different for each person, however, the best way to make it through to the other side is to do the best that you can to either cope or remove whatever it is that’s causing so much stress in your life.
Decided to keep going? Well, the way to do that is to find the silver lining.
Silver What-Now?
Your silver lining is the place of peace that you find amidst the chaos. Think of it as the eye of the storm or the center of the bubble. A silver lining is a safety net to which we can return whenever things begin to be too much.
Like a Zen Monastery in the middle of a bustling and busy city, a silver lining is a retreat that we can go to where we can breathe deeply of fresh clean air and revitalize our bodies and minds, so that we are able to better cope with the stresses and demands of the world.
Having said all of that, what exactly is it?
It’s Sanctuary
In life there are times when you have to continue on and keep moving forward despite your stressors. You may not be able to remove the source of your stress but you have to effectively manage and balance out the stress that you’re experiencing.
One way of doing this is to have a place or space where stress is not allowed to enter. It’s a place where you can put down your projects, tasks, and jobs for a short time and let your mind have a break.
One way of ensuring that your quiet space stays that way is by setting some personal boundaries and sticking to them when you notice that you’re starting to get too stressed. It’s vitally important that as much as possible that the moment you begin to feel overwhelmed, you put everything down and go and take a break.
Remember
Health and happiness are two of the most important things in life. No amount of stress is worth it if it’s making you unhappy or unwell, and that’s what stress does best, especially if it’s left to spiral out of control.
You absolutely must become the master of your stress otherwise, it will very quickly overwhelm and consume you. If you can use this silver lining technique effectively, giving yourself enough space to allow your mind to settle and to reenergize and replenish yourself, you will find that you can handle the stresses of the world to a much, much higher degree.
This will make you an asset to the people around you who need your skills and expertise because they will see that even though you are under large amounts of stress, you have effectively learned to deal with it.
The Silver Lining, in this case, is balance. If you can effectively learn to balance the times when you are under stress with times when you are not under stress, and if you have the strength of mind to let your thoughts relax and gain even a small amount of release from the pressure of it all, you will then be able to head back into the storm and return into the arena of stress with renewed vigor and a new found sense of energy and enthusiasm.
Master this strategy and there is nothing in the world that you will not be able to conquer, with enough time, planning and careful attention to your stress levels. It’s all about Making Time.
Let’s talk, how do you find the silver lining during tough times? Let me know in the comments section.
Cassandra Martin-Himmons is a trainer, wellness coach and consultant who believes in empowering her clients and providing the tools that they need to make positive changes in their lives to manage their stress and increase their self-care. In her spare time, she enjoys papercrafting, volunteering and travel. Connect with her on Instagram or Linked/In