We all face obstacles and rough times. This year proved that.
What we do when we face them helps define who we are and what we believe.
As a fan of the Rocky movie series, these words have helped me face and overcome obstacles in my life.
The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows.
It’s a very mean and nasty place,
and I don´t care how tough you are,
it will beat you to your knees and keep you here permanently if you let it.
You, me or nobody, is gonna hit as hard as life. But ain’t about how hard you hit… It’s about how hard you can get hit,
and keep moving forward.
How much you can take, and keep moving forward. “That´s how winning is done”.
How Do You Keep Moving Forward
I am blessed to be in a number of great online groups. Since I know I’m not the only person to go get hit by life, I asked how other bloggers and writers face and overcome the obstacles and rough times in life.
I asked people in Tribe Writer, the Intentional Blog course, and the Tribe Builders network to fill in the blank below.
When obstacles or rough times come, I _________ to push through them.
Here are their responses. I did edit a few for grammar, spelling, etc.
Please check out their websites to read more from those you connect with.
[I] journal; pray; ask God for the next right action and then take it, over and over again, trusting that I do not have to see the whole picture in order to take the next step. I write letters to God in my journal and listen all day for the next right action. When I sense it, I pray for the willingness to do God’s will.
~Melissa Joan Walker, www.melissajoanwalker.com/blog/
It helps me get into a clearer conversation, instead of just vague feelings. And, as a writer, I often discover more about what I am really upset about or struggling with when I write, than when I just speak or think. (paraphrasing from Joan Didion: I don’t know what I really think until I write it.)
[I]seek God’s help. Along with guidance. I have found that even though I have what looks like a good plan of my own, His plan is much better.
~Howard Sutton, www.howardsuttononline.com
I go for long walks and connect with nature. It helps me to clear my head and I often find a solution and I slowly begin to strengthen. I find that I struggle to be around people when I am going through a rough time so I love my solitude.
~Sarah Rhodes, www.milestoneonline.blog
[I] impatiently…like sitting on my hands.
~Margo Frazier, www.BeingMadge.com
[I] read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius*
~Fred Pence, www.agebrightly.com
Re-direct my thinking toward what is leftover or what is valuable.
OK so, part of it is ruminating over a relationship loss, BUT I have the memories of good times, more clarity about what I can offer and what I may want; a betrayal at work, BUT I have a little practice around how to be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. The “leftovers” are the seeds of hope for better days which eventually energize and motivate me toward resolution. Hope that’s better but willing to work toward more precision!
~Treava Milton, www.breadcrumbswriter.wordpress.com
When obstacles or rough times come, I go to my Lord Jesus Christ in prayer, asking Him to lead and guide me through His Holy Spirit.
~Lin Sons, www.Linsons.com
I trust in Prayer thru my Lord Jesus Christ in perseverance to push through them. My short prayer is Come Holy Spirit.
~Donna Maria DeGuglielmo, https://donnamaria.org/about-page/
Adapt, improvise and overcome.
~David Mike, Dilemmamike.com
Look for small victories
~Doug Giffin GiffinLife.com
[I] paint, take a bath, sweep the floor or brush the dog, and then go back to the problem.
When I have “rough times” I find activities that take my mind off my problem. Often they are creative or simple tasks.
~Pamela Fernuik Hodges, www.pamelahodges.com
I write in a journal, play my piano and violin, focus on a craft – these activities help me in remaining calm and seeking solutions.
~Rebecca Kojetin, Coffeeonmyporch.com
[I] whip out my planner, which helps me stay focused. When things get hard it’s easy to get distracted, so I plan my schedule and push through the list of things to do. Just get it done! And then take a rest.
~Rikki Ayers, www.ownupgrownup.com
Breath and meditate to… but I don’t believe in pushing through problems. I believe in flowing with them, learn from them and letting go.
~Heather Russell, www.soulfulguides.com
I take the big picture and make it into doable small parts and slowly build the dream.
~Richard Ortiz, www.newbetterliving.com
When obstacles or rough time come, I find myself turning inward, almost as if I have to close my eyes and see from the inside out. I ponder. I listen. I sing. I write. I pray. I listen. When I can see the next step, no matter how small or how big- then I can walk.
~Kathy Burrus GreenHopeCoaching.com
[I] sit in stillness. I don’t do anything. Sounds counterintuitive but it works.
~Renee Tarantowski Baude, Renee.love
[I] say a little prayer, review my goals and my action plan for the week/day, and take the next step toward reaching the goal, even if it’s a tiny step.
~Heather Hocking, Heatherhocking.com
After whining, bingeing on social media and stress eating? I usually pray. Breathe, go to the gym. Sit and talk with my wife about it. Focus on what I can control, problem-solve, read. Surrender what I can’t control into God’s care. Break out the post-it notes and dream and remember the long-term goals and why I do what I do, who I want to help and why it’s so important.
~Sovann Pen, www.SovannPen.com
[I] practice mindfulness and meditation.
~Art Burns,
Remember all the things I’m thankful for and that are wonderful in my life.
~Denise C. Allen
[I] pray first. Change my approach or tactic second.
~Jennifer Sando, www.Jennifersando.com/blog
I pray and then do the NEXT thing. (Reminding myself that I don’t have to do everything at once, or even know everything that needs to be done.)
~Pat Vick, PatVick.com
My dad recently told me when I was complaining about my first world problems to shut up and go buy my wife some flowers. May very well be the best advice out there. Take a step back and go do something nice for someone. Problems never look bigger after doing that.
~Michael Thompson, www.michaelthompsonblog.com
Get back in touch with why I started in the first place. It either reminds me why I started and re-motivates me, or helps me determine that the project either needs to change or put on hold/jettisoned altogether. Either way, it gets me moving in the right direction.
~Teresa Colón, www.woundedbirdsministry.com
When obstacles or rough times come, I step back and return a little later pushing through with persistence.
~Cori Leigh , CoriWriter.com
I get quiet, remove distractions, and pray.
~Dawn Benson Jones, DawnBensonJones.com
I pray and remember to see them as an opportunity for growth that will make me stronger in the future.
~Jocelyn Williams, jocelynanne.com
It depends on how life-threatening the obstacles or rough time. I listen to God to help me push through.
~Belinda McDanel, facebook.com/belindablogger/
I try to find the joy in the challenge and remember that sometimes a little humour helps when things get tough. A little prayer or two doesn’t hurt!
~Beth Stymiest , peoplewatchingonthesly.wordpress.com
Seek help. What that help is, and where it’s found, will depend on what the issue or obstacle is. Sometimes I need to help myself by dealing with my attitude or quieting myself. I frequently pray. Sometimes I get help from writer friends and mentors.
Sometimes help is giving myself grace.
~Danielle Bernock , www.daniellebernock.com
[I] worship and write in my journal. The quiet times draw me near to God and in that, there may be a level of understanding of why things are the way they are AND if no understanding comes then perfect peace comes into my life to trust.
~Debra Ann Westbrook, www.riversofeden1.com
[I] lean on God.
~Patty Hessler Scott, www.heartshomeward.com
… assessment.
How much of this stress is real, how much imagined?
… thankfulness.
It keeps hope in view.
… determination.
One step, one hour at a time, with the goal in mind.
~Philip Ranson, PhilipRansom.com
[I] thank God and work harder.
~Alessandro Tinchini, AlessandroTinchini.wordpress.com
[I] take care of the obstacle the best I can, or get to the root of my problem through prayer, journaling, or discussion with good friends or family.
~Haddi Trebisovsky, Hadditrebisovsky.wordpress.com
Serve others! When your focus becomes on others, your mindset shifts. Solutions come because you have changed your thinking by doing!
~DJ EshelmanLeave-it-better.com
ONE thing doesn’t work for every obstacle…for me.
Wouldn’t that be nice?
-counseling
-enjoy a day with my family
-prayer
-church
-write an article about the obstacle
-talk it out with my wife
…to name a few ?
~Jathan Maricelli, www.jathanscotte.com
When obstacles or rough times come, I strive to seek God’s will in the situation through the Bible and prayer, stay close to Him while doing all I can to push through them.
I’ve had plenty of experience, too, finding this works! I’ll be writing more publicly about some – like how I finally got through my massage course last year with my body deteriorating (from travel & study), despite predictions from a teacher (to a disability support teacher) that I’d fail a critical exam on my third (& probably final) attempt, in which I had no leeway for error having not passed any of the previous pre-tests.
I accepted, too, it may be God’s will & I’d salvage from the process other gains made, like the great connections! I passed and gave and continue to give God the credit! Not only did I pass, but my massage clinic teacher told me a couple of months later that I was a natural at massage. It made all the hardship sweet 🙂
~Colleen Golafshan, ColleenGolafshan.com
For me I use prayer and meditation; I reach for my Bible.
~Melanie Ahrens,Waitingatthewell.com
I pray to push through them and then reach out to my writing accountability friends so they can talk some sense into me and pray for me, too 🙂
~Doris Crusco Swift, DorisSwift.com
I go to God – pray, talk, laugh, cry, yell, you name it. I yearn for a real relationship with Him, but it’s hard to put your arms around Omni-everything.
~Jim Vernon, www.jimvernonventures.com
I take small steps.
~Cali Bird, www.gentlewarrior.co.uk
I gather myself and embark on a task I know I can complete…accomplishment on any scale always makes me feel better and more useful.
~Kami Boley, Boleybooks.com
Pray and patiently wait. I know waiting doesn’t sound like pushing through but it is often the best strategy!
~Jim Wolstenholm, JimTheFollower.com
Analyze the obstacle. What is it? Should I push through? Is it an opportunity for a direction I didn’t see before? Life happens and being flexible helps me not get discouraged with obstacles. I believe in pursuing dreams but doing so with an open hand and allowing God’s purpose to be the ultimate plan.
~Debbie Spence, debbiespence.com
[I] “work harder.”
~Vicki Nelson, www.facebook.com/vhnelsonauthor
I think to myself that the only way out is through. Then, I put my head down and push through.
~Stephen Fielder
I use affirmations and place my attention on positive aspects to push through them.
~Elisa Lorello, thewritershabit.com | elisalorello.com
I remember I am not alone and call upon family, friends, God, faith community.
~Jonathan Hutchison, foundationalhope.com
Having dealt with so much the past few years, I have learned that when obstacles arise, I use this as an opportunity to slow down, assess the situation and learn different ways of overcoming.
~Bernadette Estores Gomez, www.mommaberna.com
When obstacles or rough times come, I turn the obstacles into opportunities to push through them. That sounds all bumper sticker-y and sanguine, but let me say it doesn’t happen immediately. I let myself get angry or disappointed and try to process my emotions. Sometimes the answer isn’t always changing oneself but looking at the problem differently. Figure out the question to which your current life can be an answer and approach things from that direction.
~Patricia McDonough Salem, www.seasidescribe.com
A great question and I’d like to read what you’re working on. My answer would be that I learn, adapt and commit to overcoming. Plus pray. I haven’t always approached things this way though. For many years prayer and faith got me through but I wasn’t learning or growing.
~Craig Pennell, NowLivingForward.com
Funny how we often barge forward and not always overthink the actions taken overcoming obstacles and crisis. I use 4F’s & a W: Faith: I often need to be reminded of Ps 127:2. I fret way too easily. Friends & Family—their input is immeasurable. Fitness: I’ve always found great healing & clarity in regular focused exercise. Writing: there is immense healing power in writing as a therapeutic outlet. Having said all this: it’s head down and go! One of my mottos: quitting is not an option.
~Danie J Botha, DanieBotha.com
I sit in absolute silence, self-reflect, pray for wisdom to push through my rough times.
~John-Maryann Györki, www.thinkerme.com
When obstacles or rough times come, I journal and pray to push through them!
~Sarah Ch, TBA
I am with Haddi Trebisovsky on the prayer and journaling, I also do more yoga, swim more, talk and walk with my dog and other trusted family members more, and remember how and what I did to overcome other tough times which serves to remind me that I can get through the current rough patch too.
~Betsy Cox
Obstacles and rough times are inevitable. Daily MINDfulness in the form of poetry is my “go to”… To get to the other side (push through)… I pause. Breathe. Remind myself: NOTHING is greater than taking a minute–just to reflect on God’s presence within it. 60 seconds to calm. Answers are there–
ALWAYS.
~Susan K. Dahl, susankaydahl.com
I think it’s a state of mind, at least for myself. Whenever I face obstacles or rough times, it’s just another challenge in life to kick into the long grass. Mind you, we all need strategies to do it. Mine are exercise, gardening, DIY and crazily enough, writing.
~Robert Hamilton, www.writehonest.com
Pray then listen for God’s answers and then write through it. I write not because I know everything, but because I don’t – and writing helps me figure things out.
~Terry Gassett, heretotherelifecoaching.com
Journaling helps a lot. Getting outside or exercising, especially when I least want to. Fresh air helps bring a fresh perspective. On a more theoretical level, my sister and I were talking about this. In her work, in chronic pain management, they now talk less about the fight or flight response (because we are rarely in life-threatening situations) and more about fix or freeze. I don’t know the literature on this but it sure resonated! I oscillate between fixing everything in my get ‘er done mode and freezing, where I hit a wall, feel wiped and just want to sit on the couch and mindlessly watch Netflix.
~Colleen Higgs,
Thank you for including me in this project.
Thank Danielle for sharing your wisdom.