Tips to Help You Not Give Up on Life
On a regular, life seems to confront us with an endless number of challenges and issues. It throws left hooks when we expect right hooks; serves up apples when we want oranges; it even tosses us unexpectedly terrible surprises and fills us with heavy emotions that tend to anchor us to a life of mediocrity and unhappiness.
Despite all this, it is not so much what happens to us that actually makes a difference, rather what we do with what happens to us that determines where we will end up, what we will have, and how we will be transformed by our experiences.
When the waters are calm, and nothing appears to be in our way, it is easy to work toward our goals and ambitions. But if we are not mentally and spiritually prepared, we stress and struggle to deal with our circumstances when anything begins to stir the waters and rock the boat. When this happens, we see these issues and obstacles as larger than life and well beyond our ability and means.
Sometimes these barriers can take us to dark places where we feel like giving up. Here are a few indicators that you may be giving up on life:
LOSS OF PASSION
You don't have the same enthusiasm for the things that used to be exciting to you. You used to like music, painting, and dancing, but you no longer have the energy to do activities. You once enjoyed volunteering, but now you're uninterested in helping others. Instead of being thrilled about life, you feel burdened by it.
SOCIAL ISOLATION
Social withdrawal is one of the most prominent signs of giving up on life. If you no longer desire to go out with friends, communicate with your parents or siblings, and generally avoid social interactions, you're entering a dangerous zone.
NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
Words are containers of power. Internal and external words significantly impact our emotions and how we view the environment. Persistent negative thoughts might be harmful when you feel like giving up.
The good news is that you can make solid efforts to improve your situation. Happiness is a science — it's not all up to chance. You can retrain your mind to attain your goals, whatever they may be. Consider these things first before you give up:
MAKE PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES
Exercise is an exrtremly effective technique to alter your mood. Exercise's benefits have been demonstrated repeatedly, from lowering your chance of depression to reducing your risk of dementia. It doesn't have to be something you dread doing every day. It could be going for a walk with the dog or watching a yoga video. The best workout you can get is something you enjoy doing, which will help you stick to your schedule and reap all of the mental health and physical advantages.
NOURISH YOUR BODY – AND YOUR MIND
You're not considering taking care of your body when you're in a state of giving up. But caring for your body is about more than just looking good. It's also about feeling good about yourself and the world around you. When you fail to properly nourish your body, you feel it. You may experience trouble concentrating, have less energy, and even everyday tasks may make you feel like giving up and staying in bed.
Food is not just fuel for your body but also your mind. It is possible to shift your entire thinking by adequately feeding your body. You have vitality and the potential to attain your goals when you have energy. Eating an alkaline diet is an essential step toward bettering one's physical and mental health. It's all about loading up on alkaline foods like leafy green vegetables, fruits, and nuts and eliminating acidic foods like coffee, dairy, sugar, alcohol, and packaged and fast foods. (More on this in another blog.)
PRACTICE GRATITUDE
Giving thanks can help you feel happier. Gratitude has been shown in studies to reduce depression and negative emotions like jealousy and resentment. Adopting an abundant mindset isn't always simple, especially when you're feeling down. We're all human, and we tend to get locked in thought patterns that are difficult to break.
If you're unsure what to do when you feel like giving up, start practicing thankfulness with morning rituals like mantras or writing in a gratitude journal. Make it a point to look around you or close your eyes and consider all the things you are grateful for. Taking the time to express gratitude may be life-changing – and it takes very little time.
WATCH YOUR WORDS
Our thoughts are extensions of our beliefs, which shape our world. The words we speak impact us emotionally and our perception of reality. When you think, "I have nothing to live for," or "I'm so bored of everything," these thoughts become your reality, whether they are true or not. You have whatever you say. Regardless of what others say, if YOU believe that you'll never be able to reach your goals, then you won't. If you change the words and beliefs, you can change the things showing up in your life. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7)
IMPROVE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS
Watch out! You become the people you hang out with, so make sure you surround yourself with people who love and support you. Grab a partner and ask them to join in your workout routine, walk, or ride a bike. Don't have a partner? Learn a new skill that requires you to be a part of a group, such as dancing, bowling, or cooking classes. Take a look at your current relationships as well. It can be difficult to remove toxic individuals from your life, but it will become easier to say au revoir to unhealthy negative relationships as you meet new people.
Finally, obstacles are merely brief roadblocks on our journey. For the most part, they are nothing more than our interpretations of people, events, ourselves, and circumstances. Furthermore, these obstacles are placed in our path to teach us valuable lessons and assist us in better understanding our circumstances, others, ourselves, and the world around us.
When you want to give up, remember that it takes time and effort to develop your inner strength and overcome life's obstacles, but remember that success and failure don't happen overnight. People fail or succeed based on a series of small decisions made along the way. When you see the signs of giving up, reverse your course, and begin achieving again. It's up to you to leverage the power.
DISCLAIMER
The information provided within has been chosen, reviewed and/or written to express my opinions. Such opinions should not be used to act as, or replace, professional advice of any kind. Perusal of this site does not make you a client of Holly Ashley & Associates, LLC. The author claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or damage caused, or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the information presented herein.
Holly Ashley, LICSW, LCSW-C is a licensed psychotherapist (MD, DC, VA), certified forensic social worker, mental health advocate, and clinical architect of Holly Ashley & Associates. She has spent much of her professional career working with abused and neglected and court-involved teens and trauma. She previously worked at the Maryland Public Defender’s Office, Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, and DC Child and Family Services Agency. Holly is resolute in her commitment to the mental and emotional well-being of Black people and communities. Her vision is to become an industry leader in connecting Black people to culturally competent mental healthcare, empowering them to thrive now and for future generations.