How to Get Back on Your Feet After Hitting Hard Times: Five Tips from a Recovering Addict
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Although overcoming my drug addiction was one of my greatest achievements, I wasn’t sure how to get my life back on track. The truth is, whether it’s professional or personal, bouncing back after a series of failures isn’t as simple as shaking it off and starting again. But there are ways to get back on your feet! Here are a few things I learned on my journey that might help you on yours:
Take matters into your own hands. If you wait around for something great to be handed to you, you’re going to wait forever. Decide what you want to do and then make the conscious decision to make it happen. If you recently lost your job and want to switch fields, do the research to find out what steps you need to take next. If work is great and it’s your family life that needs fixing, set aside time for your loved ones each and every day — even when you’re busy, even when you’re exhausted. It’s on you to make the necessary positive changes!
Don’t let others tell you how to handle things. People mean well, but they don’t always know what’s best for you. Just because your best friend threw himself into his work to get over his divorce doesn’t mean that route is right for you. Confiding in loved ones and seeking their advice can be helpful, but consider your own limitations and emotions before deciding how to proceed.
Always have a back-up plan. Perhaps the reason you failed in the first place is because you didn’t fully consider all potential outcomes. Having a back-up plan leaves little room for unexpected surprises and can help you tackle any obstacle that may arise. Even better to have a back-up to your back-up!
Work specifically on the area in which you failed. See your mistakes as opportunities to better yourself. If you lost a work client because of a poor presentation, ask a co-worker known for his commanding presence to give you tips. Fail a big test? Ask the student with the highest grade to help you study. If it was a few different areas, work on mastering them one at a time. You may not be able to fix the big picture overnight, but you can certainly affect changes that will make you a better person today than yesterday.
Walk the walk. It’s OK to feel a little down after hard times as long as you don’t stay there. Pick yourself back up, put on your best suit and a big smile, and carry yourself like a winner. If you’re confident in your abilities, others will be, too.
We all have tough times, but it isn’t our mistakes that define us; it’s our resilience. No one ever achieved anything important without making a few errors. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be back on your feet in no time!