How to Stay Positive in Negative Situations

“I am stronger because of the hard times, wiser because of my mistakes, and happier because I have known sadness.”
–Unknown

Everyone has been through this. Despite our best intentions, something goes terribly wrong. You suffer a heartbreaking loss, make a terrible mistake, or face anything else that snatches away a chance to reach a goal that matters deeply for your future.

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In disbelief your mind screams: “Wait. What?” And then, “No, no, no, this cannot be happening.” After the initial shock, once the surge of stress hormones has settled, you realize that yes, this is really happening. And you cannot stop thinking: “But how could this happen? It is not fair. I cannot handle it. Why me? Why now? How am I going to get through this?”
Your mind is reeling. You feel anxious and defeated.

When everything goes wrong, remember the power of the mind and focus on the following:

Everything is temporary, even this.
Happiness comes from how you perceive life, not from what happens to you.
The positive things in your life, even if they feel few.
The people who stand by your side.
What matters most to you and what you can let go of.
That you are the one who chooses how you react.
The courage you have shown in other tough situations you have already overcome.
Hard times do not define you, but your focus does.
Worry, anger, complaining, denial, or any of the endless ways we try to avoid pain when things go wrong will not change the situation.

Be grateful: every event in your life is a lesson that can help you improve yourself, your family, your business, and every other area of your life. It feels hard when the problem is fresh, but if you step back and look carefully at the whole picture, you will find an opportunity or a lesson in it.

If something similar has happened to you and you cannot see how it is possible to learn from failure, read this article.