![A photo of Elk Pass & Blueberry Hill skiing - a reminder that we can endure the cold and snow and find the beauty in it and how to face challenges becomes evident.](https://mindfulnaturenut.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_8122.jpg)
Copyright © 2021 Lee Spirit
Well, it seems we’re back into an exploding pandemic after it seemed to be nearly gone. Just in time for the Christmas season! This has put a kink in many plans, and will make for some interesting family dynamics. It will bring us challenges into the new year too, as this continues to affect our lives on many levels. So today I will be writing about how to face challenges. It may seem impossible, but you can rise into your power!
You may be experiencing the loss of a loved one, a job loss, changes in the workplace, or changes in your relationships. Whatever the case may be, know that you are not alone in this. These times are dark, and they are taking a toll on mental health and physical health. So all we can do is remember our inner light, our oneness and our humanity. If we develop ourselves spiritually, we can handle the challenges ahead.
Please note that spirituality does not mean religion. You may choose a different term that suits you. It simply means being in a state of peace, calm, joy, bliss, equanimity, presence, and consciousness. It means taking deep breaths, and knowing yourself, and your mind-body-spirit. Whatever way you can meet yourself in that state is spirituality. Once you’ve attainted that, your cup is full, and it spills over to everyone around you so that they can feel the same bliss.
Change and Healing Are Unsettling
I recall I did a blog post in the summer on a hike when the heat was extreme, and now with this post and photo, we’re into some deep snow and frigid temperatures over the holidays! Both extremes offer their lessons to us while we’re in the midst of political, economic, social, educational, and healthcare upheavals. In any case, these can really throw us off balance.
Just as water freezes up, and turns to snow and ice, we are capable of freezing up, and restricting the flow of love and positive energy in our lives whenever faced with a challenge or change. When we start to heal from our traumas, there may be some melting and softening that occurs.
Healing happens more when we have felt through our pain, and also accepted what is in the present moment – good or bad. So if you’re wondering how to face challenges and change, we can do that by finding the beauty in our difficulties – the beauty in the cold snow and ice. This allows us to accept things, and move through challenges with greater ease. If you feel unsettled about the changes in your life, you can choose to rise above the difficulties into your own strength and power.
How To Face Challenges By Discovering Who You Are
Seeing Things Differently
Part of your healing process might be discovering that you aren’t who you thought you were! You may see things in a completely different way from before. Your perspectives on things change as you change. Even though this can feel unsettling, it’s often when we’re outside of our comfort zones that we grow. Rather than resisting change, take a deep breath, come into the power that lies within each and every one of your cells, and allow it without resistance.
I have been resisting some change at work lately. I’ve even been fearful, and don’t give myself nearly enough credit. I’ve discovered that by accepting what is, I relax into it, and am seeing now more of my worth and value. I am better at doing this task I don’t want to do than I previously thought. I had forgotten my power, but I feel it re-emerging now. When something happens at work that doesn’t seem right to me, I speak up about it and reclaim my power! I am Lioness, hear me roar!
The more we fight what we think we don’t want, the more it comes back to us and strips away our power. It’s time to rise up, and be who you know you are under the surface. You are stronger than you think you are! Many times it’s not that we are someone different from before, we simply need to remember who we always were!
Figuring Out What You Value
You can better know how to face challenges by knowing what it is that you truly value in life. What moves you, shakes you, and brings joy and pleasure? How do you want your future to look? What steps can you take today, in the present moment, to shape that future? Once you have a good grasp on what is important to you, and what your purpose is, you are better equipped to face the challenges and difficulties that come your way. Your purpose is often found in what lights you up, and what you love to do or be.
Releasing Habits & Tendencies
Oh, those pesky bad habits and tendencies that you can’t seem to stop! We all have them, so don’t feel bad. They often keep us stuck though, and unable to handle life’s challenges. We think our addictions are helping ease the suffering, but these things are only temporary fixes, not real solutions. To release habits, we must practice noticing them, being aware, knowing why they are there, and making an effort and a plan to change. This takes consistency and practice, it’s not a one-time thing! Yoga and meditation can really help you release what no longer serves you by bringing yourself into a neutral space. It’s in the calm of this space that we get clarity and can move forward through challenges.
Try my Free Guided Meditation To Relax, Love What Is, Break Habits, and Be Happy!
Face Challenges By Mastering Your Mind
Too many of us spend our time either ruminating on the past, or worrying about the future. These things only cause us more anxiety and grief, so it’s important to become a master of your own mind. All time is now, and the future is now. That’s why conditioning your mind to relax into the present moment is so important. When you can observe and allow what is there without judgement or criticism, and without changing anything, you gather up wisdom. Through meditation, you can then make better decisions about the way things are, and the way you might like them to be. You can also handle challenges because you’ve trained your mind to be with both the good and the difficult things.
For more ways to Rise Above Challenges and Bounce Back Strong, Click Here!
Nature and Exercise as a Way To Face Challenges
It’s hard to think of exercising sometimes when life is throwing you nothing but curveballs and punches. But even if all you can do is go for a walk, it’s one of the best forms of exercise. It can really help clear your mind, whether it’s a monkey mind of incessant thoughts, or feelings of negativity and depression. Even better is if you can go somewhere in nature, like a walk in the park, next to some giant Spruce trees, or next to a mountain stream. In the winter I love the snow-frosted Evergreen trees! Nature helps you breathe deeper, and it’s always there for you to hold you, and comfort you. Mother Earth absorbs all your troubles, and refreshes your mind-body-spirit.
When your mind-body-spirit are refreshed, it’s so much easier to face challenges and difficult circumstances. That’s because you’re handling things from a healthy state of being, rather than an unhealthy one. Imagine trying to face things you don’t want to face when you’re already feeling bad – Eating unhealthy foods and drinking too much alcohol that make you feel terrible. Imagine facing hard times when you’re already feeling negatively about the world, when you don’t love yourself, or when you’re already depressed. That will only increase the likelihood of your reacting instead of responding to unfortunate events.
Taking Care of Yourself First
Taking care of yourself first means choosing not to say or do things just to please others. Stand in your own power, and rise up by being fully you! When we do things for others, we are not being true to ourselves sometimes. That’s not to say you shouldn’t lend a helping hand when it’s needed. It’s great to be of service to others, but not to the extent that you lose yourself. Taking care of you first means setting healthy boundaries, and following through with those. Self-care means taking care of your own needs so that your cup is full of good things to share from your heart with others.
If you do things because you don’t want to disappoint someone, you will suffer. When you suffer, you aren’t as able to deal with challenges. You are better able when you feel you’re being authentic and real. Also when you focus on things that make you happy and bring you peace and joy, it’s a lot easier to adapt to changes and troubles you may be faced with.
This should give you a few tips on how to face challenges, and rise into your power and strength! Radiate your strength, resilience, and happiness!
Lee Spirit is an avid outdoors adventurer with a love for nature, photography, health & fitness, wellness, and spirituality. She helps those who suffer from anxiety & negative thinking to become healthier in mind-body-spirit. Her own personal journey has led her to the study and practice of mindfulness, health, wellness, yoga, spirituality, sound healing, meditation, and personal development for over 20 years. Get mindfulness, meditation, and personal development tips in her Free Natural Mind Healing Report.