How to get Through Hard Times

By Ria Kitsch

As a mom and an entrepreneur, I've learned that the feeling of life being hard is relative.

I’ve had no money and more than I could have dreamed. I’ve had trouble having kids then suddenly had two kids. I’ve had no work and too much work.

This is post work day, on the floor with both kids, one has a broken arm, finding a smile. Trent and I had two start ups on the go. My house and hair was usually a mess. I lived by the mantra "my burdens are my blessings"

I was raised by a single mom who never gave up.

All situations hold their own versions of "hard", and here are four ways that I’ve found to build a steadfast mentality through each one:

1. Gratitude - it’s not "toxic positivity" to set some attention on the side of the coin that holds blessings. When we choose our focus, we steer our mental ship. This can be really useful to get through short spurts of "hard".

2. Set priorities - the number of, and standards for, all the hats we wear these days is mentally exhausting - if we give them all equal weight. I've been able to get through this overwhelm by choosing 2-3 things that I prioritize and then letting the rest go. So what if my house is messy right now? I'm the only one that cares. Choosing what matters most - and what doesn't - relinquishes the control that all the hats hold over our mental health. 

3. One thing at a time - The odd time that I go for a run, or whenever I'm doing something hard, I notice that I do better when I look down at my feet (or the next step) rather than focusing on the end goal. My mind naturally knows that I can handle one more step, one more rep, one small task, but becomes overwhelmed and self-defeated if I look at the end goal. 

4. Ask for help - being vulnerable connects us. People want to help, it brings them a sense of purpose and community and creates a deeper bond. And we all take our turn needing help. Now more than ever, don't be afraid to ask.

It's taken time for me to uncover these philosophies and they work for me  - you may get super motivated by focusing on the end goal rather than the next step but what's important is uncovering what approaches build resilience in you. What works for you that I missed?