Finding Wonderful Opportunities in Chaos: Top 17 Things Learned During Trying Times

Discover a fresh outlook on tough situations, where even amidst adversity, there’s a glimmer of hope waiting to uplift you. In the face of life’s challenges, what were the pivotal steps you took to nurture your mental well-being? While navigating through hardships may seem arduous, it is precisely these struggles that shape us into resilient beings.

By taking a dive into shared experiences and personal stories, we see how our decisions impact how your perspective can change everything. These stories serve as signs of inspiration, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, there are steps we can take to foster our own well-being. Where is your silver lining?

Supportive Friends

To begin, a reader said, “I made myself reach out to friends and eventually found a new and rewarding friend group. This was following a pretty nasty breakup, so I think connecting with people in a healthy way really helped reestablish my ability to trust others.”

Therapy or Counseling

A user commented, “Couples therapy. The first appointment is in 4 hours. I’m anxious, but I’m going.”

Another user said, “Admitted myself into a very nice mental health rehabilitation center. Saved my life and taught me the importance of asking for help when you need it. Now I ask for help before things get so bad that hospitalization is needed.”

Finding A Creative Outlet

One comment was, “Spent a small amount of money on a decent (very) used camera and got off my a**** and went and took some photos. It motivated me to go out more and to focus on something I love. At this point, I hadn’t taken anything remotely decent in maybe 6 years, and the creativity really calmed me. My camera is almost always with me now, and I’ve taken some good photos (in my eyes, at least)”

Connecting With Nature

A reader replied, “Started going on walks as frequently as I could. Your legs start moving, you get into the rhythm of constant motion, and you can be rewarded with clarity over matters that have previously been stymied.”

A second reader commented, “Went fishing. Clean air, quiet, calm, and peaceful.”

Exercise and Physical Activity

One user commented, “Started regularly exercising. The gym became my safe place where I could turn off my destructive thoughts for a bit, and making exercise a habit greatly boosted my sense of self-worth.”

Adopting A Pet

A happy comment was, “I got a one-eyed cat named Spoon. He’s my best friend.”

Another was, “I got a cat. Little dude knew when I was at my worst and would not let me be alone.”

Seeking Professional Help

One commenter replied, “Went to inpatient detox and got sober. Over 5 years off the booze now!”

Another commenter said, “See a professional counselor. I cannot stress how much that helped.”

Engaging In Volunteer Work

A popular comment was, “I started volunteering at a horse rescue. I was in a bad place after a rough deployment. I’ve always loved horses, and it really helped. I joined some equine therapy programs, too. Now I’ve made a career out of photographing horses and do my best to get other veterans linked with equine therapy programs.”

Discovering A New Hobby

A reader replied, “Started playing basketball a lot. 3 hours a night. I play by myself while listening to music. It allows me to think about stuff and work through it alone.”

Another simply said, “Picking up a hobby.”

Writing/Journaling

A user wrote, “I wrote. Not for anybody to read, I simply needed to expel the poison. I wrote about my fears and self-doubt. I wrote about my flaws and failings. The things I did wrong that would keep me up. The roads I didn’t take, and the regrets about the choices I made. I then burned it all.”

Meditation or Mindfulness Practices

One reader replied, “I went on a weekend retreat all by myself. Reset my biological clock, ate when I was hungry, slept when I was tired, showered as long as I wanted, pleasured myself, painted my nails, did art, took a hike, just breathed.”

Another added, “I learned how to practice mindfulness. I learned how to observe my emotions from a relatively outside perspective. Step back, identify your emotion, identify why you’re feeling this emotion, allow yourself to feel it, and follow up from there.”

Traveling or Exploring New Places

A funny comment said, “Bought an RV. Only my best mate knew where I was. Named it The Divorcemobile.”

Developing A Self-Care Routine

A popular comment said, “Going on walks and staying away from social media.”

No Social Media

A smart user wrote, “Stopped using Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and tik tok. It’s like walking into a quiet forest every day.”

A second user added, “Reduce my phone/social media time, and at the period where I was struggling with feelings over my ex and her new man, I purposely muted all notifications from her and made sure not to let myself constantly scroll for updates about her or in general. The best thing I ever did was reduce my scrolling.”

Finding Solace

A user wrote, “I started saying no more often. no to nights out, no to clubbing, no to friends who only hang out with me on their terms. simply and without excuses, no. Those two letters ended up teaching me how to put myself first, which greatly improved my mental health.“

Another user said, “Cut people out of my life. I was going through a stressful time and instead of being supportive, I was gaslighted. Tossed them out like yesterday’s jam, felt better gradually, and never looked back.”

Setting and Achieving Personal Goals

One commented, “Made my bed every day. A new habit I learned when in a very low time in my life. That one new habit helped provide some stability and structure in a pretty sh****y time. IDK, just helped my mental health out quite a bit.”

Learning To Practice Self-Compassion

Finally, a user replied, “Learned to accept that life moves like ocean waves. Some days are up,..some are down. Be patient. Give it a chance. The tide always turns eventually.” Source: Reddit

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