The Rainstorm

OR

Will There Ever Be a Rainbow?

When it rains, it pours.

When one thing goes wrong, everything goes wrong.

Is this normal? Does everyone experience what I do?

Do other people have problems in every area of their lives all at the same time?

Do other people feel like no one cares?

Do other people have a hard time getting back on their feet? Changing themselves? Moving forward? Putting on a brave face? Smiling through the tears? Picking themselves up off the floor after setbacks?

It’s easy to feel like I’m the only one going through crap because everyone is better at hiding it…assuming others have the monster obstacles that I do. Which I highly doubt…because if others do, then this world would be full of broken people, but everyone I saw today is in a good mood (well, almost), and I see a lot of people in the run of a day.

I know I should be more positive online, and only show the good…otherwise people may stop reading what I write. However, I also think it’s important to show the struggles. I don’t want people to believe they’re the only ones going through hard times.

At this time, I don’t want to list every trial and tribulation I am going through, in a sort of woe-is-me fashion.

I just want to say that I still believe that after the rainstorm, there will be a rainbow…if you work for it. You can’t just sit there and hope the rain will pass, or you will never see the sun.

Here are some tips to clear those cloudy skies, and they’re not in any particular order:

1. Mind dump. Take a sheet of paper and write down everything you are going through and everything that’s on your mind. There’s no limit, just get it all down. I call it a mind dump because you are dumping everything onto paper, so you can see it in black and white. If you want to be fancy, you can make a web and connect the things that are related. This exercise shows you in one place everything that you’re dealing with – the thoughts, the obstacles, the stresses, the adversities – and now you have a list of things to tackle.
2. Focus. Focus on one thing at a time. You can use your mind dump as a starting point. Maybe things aren’t as bad as you thought, and there are only a few things on the page. Maybe things are worse than you thought, and you filled several pages.
3. Prioritize. This is helpful if you are overwhelmed with all the things you have to deal with. What’s important now? What will make the biggest impact on your life if you do it before all else? What has the biggest return? Is there anything that can be eliminated from your list? Or can something be delegated to someone else?
4. Small steps. You don’t have to do something huge to move forward. Just one small step every single day means you take 7 small steps in a week. 365 small steps in a year. Just think where you could be in a year’s time!
5. Goals. Set goals. Follow the SMART formula: Specific – Measurable – Achievable – Realistic – Timebound.
6. Follow your dreams. Know what it is you want in life. Know what it means to live your best life. Take steps to get there. We all have the capabilities to choose our outcome.
7. Passionate. Find your passion. Everyone has something. It may take a while, trying several different things, but once you find your passion, life is suddenly worth it. Your passion doesn’t have to be your career or business, but life’s better when passion aligns with career. It’s pure magic.
8. Think positive. No matter what you go through, you have the power to change it, and it could always be worse.
9. Go for a drive. Driving helps me clear my head. If you don’t drive, take a long bus ride or train ride. Oftentimes, a solution to my problems comes to me when it’s just me, my car, and the open road. Unfortunately I’m unable to write it down unless I pull over, but driving can be beneficial.
10. Positive attitude. Think positively and see the silver lining in everything. This may sound hokey, but thinking positive attracts more positive things into your life. Almost like it raises your vibration, and makes you more pleasant to be around.
11.  Solitude. Take a day off. Go to a secluded location, or just stay home. Spend this time to regroup. Don’t work too hard on moving forward. Sometimes you have to go slow in order to go fast. That means you sometimes need a break to figure things out, and then you can go charging ahead. Trust me, it works. Instead of constantly being do do do, go go go…stop for a moment, and check what you’re doing right, what could be improved, and before you know it, you will be going faster into a better future than you were before.
12. Volunteer. Volunteering takes the focus off yourself while you help others. Volunteering can remind you there are people who are less fortunate than you are. It helps to put things into perspective. We all want a better life, but helping others reminds us that it could be worse. And you help someone who needs it. It’s a win/win for everyone!
13. Listen to podcasts or watch videos. People who have been through it before have a lot to teach us.
14. Do something on your bucket list. Even if it’s a frivolous thing. A bucket list is a list of things you want to do or experience before you kick the bucket. You will realize that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. My bucket list has 200 items on it. Some are big blow-your-mind experiences, and others are a little less extraordinary. I hope to achieve several per year.
15. Seek support. Talk to friends, family, or a therapist. An objective viewpoint may be just what you need. Maybe they went through something similar and can shed some light on action steps you can take.
16. Fresh air. You may underestimate the power of just going outside and breathing in the fresh air. No matter the time of year, or how warm or cold it is, it feels good. Sometimes that’s all you really need.
17. Autobiography. Read an autobiography of someone you admire. They show their obstacles and overcome them, and can inspire you to do the same.
18. Seek inspiration everywhere.

Above all, don’t give up. Don’t ever give up. You will get through the overwhelm, just like I know I will. The goal of my blog is to help inspire others just by sharing my story. There will always be obstacles, but the adversities make us stronger.

I truly do want to help others live their best life, so let me know in the comments if any of these tips helped you.

Be awesome and may your life be passionate!