3 Ways To Bounce Back From A Setback

No matter how charmed your life may be, we all face hard times. That just comes with the territory of living. So how do you get up when life knocks you down? How can you become more resilient?

Lance Armstrong and Oprah Winfrey are two examples of resilient people. Despite Lance’s health setbacks and Oprah’s difficult childhood, both found ways to move forward in the face of adversity. How do they and other resilient people do it? Here are three tips that resilient people use to bounce back faster.
 
3 TIPS TO BOUNCE BACK FASTER:
 
1. Don’t Obsess. Resilient people feel bad when life’s hard times come, but they don’t obsess. You’re obsessing if you often think, "If only…" like "If only I had quit smoking sooner," or "If only I had tried harder." Although those thoughts are understandable, too many of them can keep you stuck in the past. Resilient people stay focused on the present.
 
2. Don’t Blame Others. You’re blaming if you think, "Things would be great if it wasn’t for (fill in the blank) my boss, my sister, the stock market." Although it’s logical to blame others, doing this will prevent you from being resilient because you’re giving your power to those you’re blaming instead of keeping it for yourself.
 
3. Do Take Action. People who feel they have some control over what happens to them, are more resilient than those who don’t. So find something you can control in your situation. If your mate is sick, get more information on the disease, or if your parent is aging, talk about your options. One woman lists 5 things she can do to handle her difficult situations, then she picks one and does it.

About Darlene Mininni

DR. DARLENE MININNI is the author of The Emotional Toolkit (St Martins Press), former producer and host of the Sunday morning radio show The Dr. Darlene Mininni Show on KTLK in Los Angeles and the contributing host of The Emotional Toolkit Series on XM radio. Her advice has been featured on national television, radio and print media including CNN, PBS, NPR FOX, Woman’s Day, SELF, Marie Claire, COSMO, Ladies Home Journal, WebMD and Prevention. Dr. Mininni is the creator of UCLA’s award-winning happiness course, LifeSkills, a class so popular applications jumped from 30 to 700 in just 18 months. She was also the founder and artistic director of UCLA’s Kaleidoscope Self-Help Theatre. Through her organization Trait-20 Consulting, Dr. Mininni works privately with individuals looking to create both inner and outer success in their lives. She has a PhD in Clinical Psychology and a Masters degree in Public Health. For more information, visit www.EmotionalToolkit.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DrDarleneMininni

One Response to 3 Ways To Bounce Back From A Setback

  1. Ligia M. Houben March 14, 2011 at 5:36 am #

    These three suggestions are fantastic! In the seminar "The Eleven Principles of Transformation" to be offered in March 26-27 we explore ways to bounce back after a loss and live a life with meaning.

    Have a beautiful day,

    Ligia M. Houben
    http://www.ligiahouben.com