Jul 23, 20203 min read

things to remember in a rough patch

we've all experienced rough patches in our lives. they make it very hard to remain positive and can affect not just yourself, but others too. however, we all have the choice to either mend our problems or to let them affect us and our environment. all we really need is a determined mindset.

here are some reminders i've been given, and/or have told myself repeatedly, during rough patches in my life:

→ EVERYTHING IS TEMPORARY

no matter how difficult things are in the moment , it's important to remember that nothing lasts forever. changes occur, even over the duration of a second. people who spend their lives with a negative mindset won't be able to succeed or find happiness in the future. as long as you remain rational but determined to see a more positive outlook on life, you'll be okay.

→ YOU ARE STRONG

this sounds quite typical for me to say, but i think we all need this during rough patches. honey, you are stronger than you'll ever know. i understand everything is out of control, but that doesn't mean you're powerless. in fact, take this time to sit back, let whatever events fall into place, and realize that you can only do so much in certain situations. when the time comes for you to step in and take control, you'll see the amount of strength you hold is NOTHING compared to the rest of the world's.

→ IT'S OKAY TO BE ALONE

sometimes, we prefer being alone when we're most vulnerable, and that's okay! in fact, balancing time for yourself and with others is one of the healthiest habits a person can develop. when people are constantly reaching out, don't be afraid to either schedule a "get-together" for later or cancel current plans. you need a clean headspace, away from distraction, in order to think clearly.

→ MORE PEOPLE THAN YOU THINK UNDERSTAND

not everyone will know what you're going through, but that doesn't mean nobody does. in fact, if you lay out everything on the table, you'll see how closely related some of your issues might relate to other's, including loved ones. needless to say, certain cases are quite hard to understand. yet, despite the complexity of a given situation, recognizing that you are not alone makes an enormous difference on the way you're able to validate your self-worth. believe me, countless people can empathize with you.

→ DO NOT BE AFRAID TO REACH OUT

we shouldn't depend on others too much. at the same time, we can't shove our feelings inside forever. it takes a lot, but communicating our issues with other people could potentially have an enormous impact on the problems we're facing. to help you communicate without fear of "annoying" or "interrupting" someone, allow me to say this: you are not a burden to others. they may be busy, but that doesn't mean they don't care. you are also not weak for reaching out; in fact, it's one of the toughest things a person can do.

→ ROUGH PATCHES ARE LEARNING LESSONS

my final reminder for anyone who's struggling out there: rough patches are essential to growing as a person. without them, how can we better ourselves throughout our lifetime? what you discover and learn about yourself varies; and regardless what people think, the only thing that truly matters in the end is that you've come out of it stronger, wiser, and braver than you were before.