In life, we all have moments in which we are on cloud nine but at other moments we feel as if the whole world is against us. This is the ebb and flow of life as we each progress through our own journeys.
Now, this article is not about how to handle things when life is good as that handles itself! It is about on the off days and periods in which times seem bleak you can provide a little light.
Embrace The Little Wins!
In moments when you may feel the world is against you, remember to embrace the little wins. Having an appreciation for something small in your day can provide some positivity in a day which can otherwise seem bleak and glum.
A small win is dependent on your circumstance and is relevant to you. It is something that makes your day more pleasant as your reaction to it provides a good feeling.
For me, a small win can be that the traffic lights were all green on my way to work or one of my classes nailed their lesson objectives. On other days, I may have managed to get through the working day and still get some exercise in.
The point is each day a little win will be slightly different but in all the busyness that we occupy our days with remember to pause and embrace a little win, a brief feel-good moment in your day.
Dip Into Your Cookie Jar
Anyone who has heard the name David Goggins knows that he utilises this tool for his athletic pursuits but in our case, we will be utilising it for a different type of endurance!
You need to fill your cookie jar with feel-good memories or experiences which will provide motivation and inspire perseverance when you need it. This jar can be physical with notes written down or just in your mind but the important thing is it is there.
From my own experience in endurance sports, I have used this tool multiple times when an endurance event got tough. Deciding what goes into your cookie jar takes a bit of time to perfect but once you have it you can then apply the same process to life outside of sports!
Don’t Let Future Ambition Undermine Existing Progress
Ambition is brilliant! It is what drives us to innovate, progress and develop as individuals. However, with ambition comes comparison. This comparison of where we currently are to where we think we should be often disregards the progress we have already made.
If you could go back to your 11-year-old self and tell them that in X amount of years they would be in your current position, living the life you have, what do you think the reaction would be? (In my case I know I would have laughed and scoffed at the thought of it!)
The point is that we are capable of more than we think through life. My 11-year-old self wouldn’t be able to live my current life and rightly so because through life we grow and develop the capabilities to handle experiences better.
It is from this growth that we can take the confidence and inspiration that whatever is thrown your way you will eventually be able to overcome as you have done on countless other occasions in your life.
Summary
We all have moments in which we feel on top of the world; other times, we can have a rough patch or the odd bad day. On these off days when things seem bleak remember;
- Embrace the little wins
- Dip into your cookie jar
- Don’t let future ambition undermine existing progress
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Arthur Lawlor Coaching 
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