problem

Dec

2020

Characteristics of a Successful Start-Up

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Have you heard of the phrase “survival of the fittest”? Made famous by Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution; the phrase means that in natural selection, only the strong can survive. And they are the ones who have adapted to the environment well. The same is true with the world of start-ups. Just like in the theory of evolution, only the strongest can survive among start-ups. Faced with limited resources, fierce competition and the challenges of brand creation and promotion plus finding a dream team; no wonder only a few start-ups survive. So, what separates those who succeeded? What are the characteristics of a successful start-up?

1. Flexibility

Flexibility is an essential trait for entrepreneurs, more so for start-ups. Being flexible means the ability to adapt to changing environments. Yes, it is tough to allow some changes to your original idea but it is the only way to survive in this fast-changing world.

Be clear about your goal but be flexible about the process of achieving it.
– Brian Tracy

2. Their Product is a Solution to a Problem

Before you start your business, ask yourself the following:

Will the product solve an existing problem?
Who are my target consumers? What are their existing needs?
How can the product address the needs of my target consumer?
What problems can my product solve that my competition cannot?
Why should your target consumer use your product?

Every new product has to solve an existing problem in the market. That is the only way to attract your target consumers. Addressing these questions can help you develop a strategic plan to create a valuable product.

3. They Test Their Products First in a Small Market.

You have a product that you want to sell. But how do you know if people will actually buy your product? The answer is to test first. Testing the market before launch can help you evaluate your business strategy and make adjustments to your product. Start small. Mark Zuckerberg launched the site to Harvard university first, extending to other Ivy League schools before making it available to all US universities and then ultimately the world. For example, if you want to open a restaurant, try to get some feedbacks of the food that you want to sell from your family and friends before actually opening a restaurant.

Testing leads to failure, and failure leads to understanding.
-Burt Rutan

4. A Dream Team

Studies have shown that one of the most important factors in the success of a start-up is the founding team. Your dream team is composed of key individuals that will work with you from the very beginning to achieve your business goals and dreams. Any successful start-up rarely is the work of just one person but has a group of people behind it. The fate of the company lies in the strength of the founding team.

Teams are incredible things. No task is too great, no accomplishment too grand, no dream too far-fetched for a team. It takes teamwork to make the dream work.
– John C. Maxwell

5. Persistence

Entrepreneurs face challenges on a daily basis. Thus, persistence is a vital ingredient to success. Entrepreneurs should be willing to overcome failures. After all, failure is part of success. Never ever give up. Be willing to take that extra mile to success. The people who succeeded are those who persevered. Walt Disney, Colonel Sanders, Elon Musk and Jack Ma are just but some examples of highly successful entrepreneurs who persisted.

Energy and persistence conquer all things.
– Benjamin Franklin

Sep

2020

How To Be Happy in Difficult Times

Reading Time: 3 minutes

This pandemic has caught everyone by surprise. We woke up one day and the world is different. Suddenly, it is like we are all living inside a science-fiction movie. We watch in horror as we see the number of people dying all around the world. What is COVID? How did this thing even happen? And even if we find the vaccine soon, the world will no longer be the same again. As we struggle to adapt to the new normal, another crisis is in the corner – the global economic crisis brought about by this pandemic. It’s not just a health issue now; there is still the challenge on how to survive this economic crisis. In times like this, it is difficult to be happy, much less stay sane. So, how to be happy in difficult times?

Below are some tips on how to be happy in difficult times:

1.Focus on What you Have NOT on What you Don’t Have

What’s the first thing that you do in the morning? if you have a habit of watching the news or checking your social media, then it is time to change your habit. The news will be full of bad things happening around you while your social media will contain things that others have that you don’t have. Instead of that, why not start a gratitude journal and write down at least three things that you are grateful for. By doing this simple thing, you are shifting your focus from the negative to the positive. Then you are starting your day on a positive note. Through this habit, you will be surprised that you can easily find joy in the little things in life.

The earlier you learn that you should focus on what you have, and not obsess about what you don’t have, the happier you will be.
– Amy Poehler

2.Accept Things That You Cannot Change

Many of us gets frustrated with things that are beyond our control. The pandemic, the past and other people are just some of the things that we have no control over. The sooner we accept that we cannot change these things, the sooner we will be happy.

In order to fully accept the situation, you need to go through a process of grieving first. Go ahead, cry your heart out. Feel the sadness and the pain. It’s okay to not be okay for some time. But don’t let it consume you. After some time, you need to start living your life again.

Focus on the things that you can change. You cannot control the pandemic but you can protect yourself from diseases. You may be buried in debt but you can slowly improve your finances through financial literacy. Learn to differentiate the things that you can and cannot change.

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
– Reinhold Niebuhr

3. Surround Yourself with Happy, Positive Individuals

Did you know that you are the average of the five people you spend the most of your time with? If you surround yourself with positive people, you will also have a positive attitude in life. In the same way that if you spend too much time with toxic individuals like those people who complain a lot, then you will also end up feeling down. Be wise. Be choosy about the people you hang out with.

You are the average of the five people you spend most of your time with.
– Jim Rohn

4. Find your Purpose

It may sound cliche, but things really do happen for a reason. There is a lesson with all this like how important our health is as well as the environment. The important thing here is to learn the lesson and move on. A purpose will give us the reason to move on. Life is not a steady path, there will always be bumps and obstacles along the way. Having a clear goal, will keep us walking on that path amidst the challenges. So, find your purpose. Unleash the genius within you. Your purpose is always connected with your gifts, talents and passion.

He who has why to live can bear almost any how.
-Friedrich Nietzsche

Feature Image by Enrique Meseguer from Pixabay Images

Aug

2020

Launch : Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity

Reading Time: 3 minutes

You found your genius and you have finally figured out how to monetize it. You are now ready to launch. But wait, not just yet. To minimize failures, John Spencer and A.J. Juliani, authors of the book Launch: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity talks about using design thinking as framework to boost the creative cycle.

Design Thinking

Design Thinking is actually a mindset that is is a solution-based approach in solving problems. It is focused on building up creative ideas. It put importance on creating value for the people on whom you are building the product or service for rather than on the work itself. In short, it is solution-focused rather than problem-focused.

Contrary to popular belief, design thinking is not just for designers or in people in the arts. It is applicable in any field. You can use it in the corporate world, politics, engineering and education. You can even use it to motivate and guide children if you want them to grow up as active creators rather than merely consumers.

The Launch Cycle

There are many models for design thinking, but John Spencer and A.J,Juliani created a design thinking framework that although catered towards students, it is still applicable for everyone. It is simple and easy to remember.

L – Look, Listen and Learn

Before creation, people are encouraged to first observe your surroundings. Look at what products or services are being offered out there that is quite similar to what you want to offer. Listen and be aware of the current problems or issues. Empathize with the people that you want to serve. What do they need most? And then learn from other’s mistakes so that you can avoid them.

A – Ask tons of questions

Based on the observation, people are encouraged to ask as many questions as they can. It is the simplest and most effective way in learning and applying the creative process. Questions help generate better solutions to the problem at hand.

U – Understanding the process / problem

This is the phase where the research comes in. To be able to better understand the process or the problem, an in-depth study is needed. The authors defined research to include watching videos, conducting interviews, doing surveys, read articles and publications, analyzing data and doing hands-on activities. In short, gather as much data as possible and analyze them until you have completely grasp the problem.

N – Navigate ideas

This is the time to apply the acquired knowledge in the product or service that you want to create. If you are part of a team, this is the time to brainstorm ideas. Try to focus on one specific problem that you want to address and generate a new concept from there. Identify also the necessary steps and resources that you need to create your product or service.

C – Create a Prototype

Once you have completed the first four phases, you are now ready to create a prototype. This is the phase where you bring your ideas to life. It is creating a sample for your product.

H – Highlight and fix

Try, test and get feedbacks from your prototype. This phase is all about highlighting what’s working and fixing what is not. Correct all the mistakes and improve your product/service.

LAUNCH

Once you have made the necessary revisions, you are now ready to launch. Many people fail because they jumped right up to this step right away. They have invested their resources only to find out that their project/business does not work. The launch cycle helps prevent that from happening.

Here is a scenario to illustrate the importance of the cycle. You found out that you have a passion for baking cupcakes. You want to monetize it so you decided to open a pancake shop. Unfortunately, the sales ended up not as you expected. So, you were forced to close your business after a few months’ operation. Shortly after, you heard feedback from a friend that your cupcakes are too sweet for most people. And besides, there is a cupcake shop at the next corner that sells cheaper and tastier cupcakes.

The waste of resources and the failure of the business could have been prevented if you have only used the launch cycle prior to you launching your business. If you only made samples first and ask people to get feedback from people, you could have adjusted the recipe for your cupcakes. In addition, if you have done your research, you would have known the existence of the other cupcake shop in that area. It is difficult to make the necessary adjustments if you had already formally launch because there are already so many things to consider.

Watch this video to find out more.

Video Credit: John Spencer

Feature Image by WikiImages from Pixabay.

Jul

2020

5 Tips to Get Through Your Lowest Point in Life

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Life is made up of highs and lows and people of all ages experience it differently. When we are experiencing a “high” in some or several aspects of our life, we feel blessed, happy and fulfilled. We are compelled to celebrate our good luck and share our joy with those most important to us. When the opposite happens however, we tend to withdraw from everyone.

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When we’re sad, angry, frustrated, feeling hopeless or regretful, most of us would rather be alone. During this time, withdrawing from your social life can be helpful to your mental and emotional health. This is only if you do so for a short period of time. Here are some tips to help you get through your lowest point in life. These should help you feel better and to get back on your feet quicker.

1. Vent Out Your Emotions

If you’ve been holding on to some negative emotions for some time, now is the time to let them out. Give yourself a break. Venting out emotionally also benefits your mind and body. Cry out your sadness, write down your frustrations, eat a whole pint of ice cream while watching a drama, get angry, have a pity feast or do something creative. Just be sure not to do anything you will regret later. Give yourself a day or 2 to go through the process. Let your pent up emotions out but don’t dwell on them for too long.

Since you are emotionally vulnerable during this time, it is better to do this in a place familiar to you. Some people would rather get away to a new place to sort out their emotions. In both cases, it would be helpful to have a friend who understands what you’re going through. They can help you put a lid on things if you do get out of control. Remember though, your friend can only do so much. Only you can get yourself unstuck from your own emotions or mindset.

2. Get a Sense of Reality

When you have vented out your emotions, it’s time to take stock of the actual circumstances as they are. It’s time to “face the music” as the saying goes. Unless you accept the situation as it is, you won’t be able to move on. This is where an understanding friend is most helpful. This should be someone who knows you personally but is not necessarily involved in the situation.

It will be hard for most people to look at things without emotional attachment. A friend can serve as a more objective observer and can help you see things in a broader perspective. In this way, you can have a better understanding of the circumstances. Your friend can also help you see the point of view of the other people involved in the situation.

This is also the time to be grateful for the things that you have. Go over the lessons you have learned and the people who support you. With a better understanding of things, you can start getting clear, and get even more tips on how you can get through your lowest point in life.

3. Start a Plan

With a clearer perspective on things, it’s time to quit feeling sorry for yourself and start to move forward. Ask yourself: What’s the best approach to turn things around? What should be my first step to clarify things or to solve a major obstacle?

Think about the bigger picture and your goals both in the immediate future and for the long-term. What do I need to do to start my journey to my major goal? Are my previous or current plans aligned with my goals? Write down your goals and next steps.

Think carefully about what you should do each day, weekly, etc. to get closer to your goals. Don’t forget to integrate wellness practices into your daily schedule to keep yourself in the right mindset. You might even try to dress differently to make you feel better.

4. Put in The Work

Now that you have a plan, it’s time to put your plan into action. Plan your daily, weekly, monthly schedule. Organize your workspace to help you work more efficiently and be more productive. Make your environment more relaxing by removing clutter. Talk to the people you need to in order to start the ball rolling. Connect with the right people who can help you carry out your goals. Take each day as they come and keep doing what you need to do to move things forward.

While you are putting in the work by connecting with other people, make sure to invest in yourself as well. Take that online course or attend that training. Get the knowledge and skills you need for the next step in your plan.

As you enhance your knowledge and develop your own set of skills, you will also meet new people who will help you grow even more. As you renew your relationships, you will also encounter more tips and ways to get through your lowest point in life.

5. Be There for Someone Else

Moving forward is the only solution to not staying in the situation you don’t like. Sometimes, certain situations still trigger the negative emotions that we want to get out of our system. This makes it hard to focus on our goals and may hinder our progress. What’s the next best thing to do?

Instead of focusing on just your goals, try to reach out to others who need help too. Be there for them even if just to listen to their predicament. When you focus your attention on someone’s else’s problems, you can learn from their experience. You may find inspiration, or even the solution to your own predicament.

Even if you don’t, you will at least feel better knowing that you are not alone with your problems. You are able to make someone feel better just by being a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. This will help you feel even more grateful for the things you have in your life. You will feel more gratitude for the people and circumstances that allowed you to start moving on from your own low point in life.

These tips are just some of the ways you get through your lowest point in life. If you have been feeling down recently, you should check your overall wellness. If you feel that you can’t handle things by yourself, you should consider getting professional help. A therapist or psychologist can help you so you don’t fall into depression.

Remember that it is normal to experience many low points in your life. But as long as you try to get back up, you will get stronger. The next time you hit a low point in your life; the lessons you learned from the previous experience should help you recover even better than before.

Updated. First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 2019.10.02.
Feature Image: Original Photo by Pixabay from Pexels.

Apr

2020

The Problem Set Challenge

Reading Time: 3 minutes

An eagle rises above the storm by soaring above them. Similarly, we need to find a way to go beyond the storm that we are experiencing in our life. We need to let our minds soar to greater heights and figure out what we need to do to get there.

Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune; but great minds rise above them.
— Washington Irving

Instead of focusing on the worries, let us try to think above and beyond the challenges that we are facing. Seeing the bigger picture will help us take a clearer perspective of what we need to have and do in order to rise above the storm of life’s trials.

However, in order for us to soar above a challenge, we need to identify first if our wings are strong enough to withstand the storm. Ask yourself, “Do I have the qualities necessary to solve my current problem/s?” To answer this question, take the Problem Set Challenge.

The Problem Set Challenge

Get a pen and paper and divide it into 5 columns. Name the first column Challenge, the second column Solutions, the third column, Internal Resources, the fourth column Actions and the last column External Resources.

Challenge

On the Challenge column, write down 1 or 3 major challenges that you are facing at the moment. Try to be specific and be sure to number them accordingly. Don’t think too hard on the order; just follow your gut.

Solutions

On the Solutions column, write down the solution that is necessary to solve the problem. Try to be specific on this as well. If you have more than one solution to a problem, number them accordingly.

Internal Resources

On the Internal Resources column, write down the resources that you will need to implement each solution. These are not material resources but the qualities that you will need to help you implement the solution. For example, if you’re problem is that you need to save money and one solution is exercise; one quality you will definitely need is self-discipline. Each resource may be repeated for each solution.

Action

On the Action column, write down how you will specifically implement each solution using the resources you have identified.

External Resources

At this point, you may add other items in the External Resources column as part of the requirements to implement the solution.

If you find that some Internal Resources are lacking, then that means that you need to develop these qualities in yourself. You may need to list this down as a problem that you need to solve first before the current problem you listed.

Revise your list accordingly until you are able to specify which problems need to be addressed first and the specific solutions to them. You may need to revise several times but try to come up with just 3 specific problems that you will focus on for the time being. Consider these 3 challenges and their solutions as your current problem set.

Whenever your preparations for the sea are poor; the sea worms its way in and finds the problems.
— Francis Stokes

This exercise helps you determine patterns of thought or habits that you may already have, or not have, that you will need to help you solve specific problems, not just at this moment in your life but also in the future.

Remember, before you can rise above the storm, you will need to ensure that you have the qualities it takes to brave the strong winds and endure whatever the storm brings you until you can go beyond it. But going above it is not your only goal. You also need to make sure that you have a plan on how to keep staying above it.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Dani Mota from Pexels.

Apr

2020

Gratitude in Tough Times: Bringing Light in the Dark

Reading Time: 4 minutes

It is easy to be grateful if everything is doing well. However, the challenge lies during difficult times. It is hard but it is something that we need to learn. To practice gratitude during tough times is the only way to bring light in the dark.

Darkness deserves gratitude. It is the alleluia point at which we learn to understand that all growth does not take place in the sunlight.
– Joan Chittister

Pessimistic. Negative thinker. Sensitive. Prone to depression.

That’s who I was.

There were moments that I will just find myself crying. I would wake up in the middle of the night and just feel the sadness, pain, and rejection and all over me. I’d feel deep sorrow permeating inside me. I would cry and cry until I fall asleep again.

And when I am down. Gee! I was really down. And it would be difficult for me to stand up again and live my life. For weeks, my emotions would control and pull me down.

I am the type of person with a melancholic temperament. For a personality like mine, seeing the positive and being grateful is back-breaking.

I had this tough experience but to this day I am thankful. I had this super difficult boss. No matter how much effort I put into everything I do, it will not be appreciated. If I do well in my work there is no need for appreciation because I was just doing my job as expected of me. Those were his words to me. But when I make any mistake no matter how tiny and insignificant, it is easily noticed. I will be reprimanded immediately even in front of many people.

It was an arduous journey. Pessimistic as I am, if I have collected the tears I shed it would have been an ocean. Even my self-esteem went down.

But later on, I learned a very important lesson.

For you to improve the quality of your life, you must see the blessings. Then you will attract more of the things that you can be grateful for.

I am dealing with this difficult boss but I love my job.

My boss is grumpy at times but I am grateful that I can still smile and influence him to smile.

Although my boss is unappreciative but I am grateful for the people around me who support and love me.

Yes, my boss will easily reprimand me for my mistakes but I am grateful for the many opportunities for me to grow and improve.

So, instead of sulking in negativity and self-pity, I changed my perspective and saw it as a challenge. Instead of the negative, I chose to see the blessings and learned to be grateful with the blessings that I have. I chose to work smarter. By reading a lot of books and attending seminars, I began to grow. I learned from my mistake and improved the quality of my work and my disposition.

And when I decided to change myself and the quality of my thoughts, without me knowing, my boss saw my improvement. He even commended me personally and even in front of others about how I have changed and improved through the years.

Because of that experience, I became a better person. A grateful one at that.

Today, you might not have a difficult boss that you are dealing with but instead you are in a difficult situation. You might be experiencing a grueling trial in life or you might be dealing with a loved one or an officemate who is challenging to deal with. You might have problems with your family, your finances, and your health.

I do not know where you are right now. But remember unless we experience failures and hardships in life we will not truly grow. It is essential for our success so that we may bear fruit.

I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop.
– John 12:24

GOD suffered and died for us. He was crucified and was buried in a dark tomb. After three days, He resurrected.

There might be times in our life where we feel it was dark, hopeless, and it seems that the suffering that you are experiencing will not end. You feel buried in the darkness of hardships, trials and difficulties. However, let us remind ourselves that problems in life are temporary because victory is on the way. Easter is coming.

Let us be persons who will see the good in difficult people. Let us be the kind of persons who will see the opportunity in a challenging situation, and the kind who will appreciate what we have, even in the face of darkness.

It is easy to become grateful when life is easy but being grateful when things are difficult is hard. Let us choose to embrace gratitude to be able to get through the hardships. And in the end, we will come out victorious!

Think of one difficult moment or any problem or any challenge you are experiencing in your life right now. Write down 10 blessings that comes with that problem.

Hazel Atencio is author of the book The Gratitude Habit: How to Change Your Life by Saying Thank You Everyday.

She is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering. When she was still in college, she dreamed of entering the convent to dedicate herself serving to God as a nun. She finds her calling serving God in Bo Sanchez ministries.

Hazel’s personal life mission is to influence and add value to others by bringing out their uniqueness and greatness.

To learn more about Hazel, connect with her via her Facebook page or email her at hazel.atencio@gmail.com.

First published in Pinoy Smart Living in 11.14.2018
Feature Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay Images

Apr

2020

Challenges Are Important for Growth and Success

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Challenges are important in life. They are needed to four own personal growth and success.

When facing a problem big or small, are you the type to tackle it head-on, go around it or avoid it? Do you react to a problem in a calm manner or do you react with anger or frustration? When put under pressure, do you often give up or do you become even more motivated? Do you sometimes find yourself asking why are there so many problems in life anyway?

Ideal

Almost everyone’s picture of a happy life is one where a ship always sails through calm waters. It is a life where the problems one faces are few and far in between. And if ever adversities come, they are the kind of problems that are actually pleasant to deal with (e.g., what type of coffee to drink from all the options on hand). But life is not always like that just as the ocean is never always calm. The storms you experience in life are there for a reason and it’s not because you’re just unlucky.

“There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.”
– Willa Cather

Purpose

Life’s challenges may be painful and we may sometimes feel that they are unfair but they do have their purpose.

If you read the life stories of many great and successful persons, you will find that their lives were hardly easy and smooth and sailing. They had plenty of downs before they had a breakthrough which changed their lives for the better or they had many seemingly unfortunate events which motivated them to pursue their next path towards success. It’s only when looking back that they can connect the dots and see how all their past experiences helped them become the person capable of succeeding.

Self-Reflection

Think back on your life as well. Maybe you had experienced some form of criticism in the past which greatly impacted your way of thinking today or motivated you to improve in a particular area in your life. What other negative experiences did you have that made you an even better version of you?

What’s important to keep in mind is that all the pain and discomfort we experience in these difficult situations is a result of our ability to process our experiences mentally and emotionally. We are in-charge of our own reactions and we can make decisions that steer our thoughts and emotions into a calmer space so that we are in a better state of mind to decide on our next actions.

Challenges give us a chance to improve in the different areas of our life by gaining more experience and wisdom to push forward. They are there to test our limits so we can see how far we can go to reach our goals. At the same time, challenges are opportunities for us to achieve a greater level of success than the limits we have set for ourselves. They are like the fire that melts away the impurities in the materials to bring out its better qualities.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
– Martin Luther King Jr.

Challenge

The next time you find yourself stuck between a rock and a hard place, welcome the challenge. It is an opportunity for personal growth and a nudge that brings you closer to your success. Always keep in mind that like all things, challenges are temporary and they too will pass; but it is always a better feeling afterwards to pass them with flying colors.

Original Photo by Hieu An Tran on Unsplash

Apr

2020

Rise Above the Storm

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Challenges are part of our daily lives. They come in many forms. They can be in the form of financial difficulties, work problems, health issues or relationship conflicts. While some challenges are manageable, others are not. Sometimes, they can be very difficult to overcome especially if it is something that is beyond our control. Whatever problems you are encountering right now, the most important thing is how to rise above the storm.

An example the Covid-19 pandemic. It came unexpectedly. No one was prepared for the negative effects it brought into people’s lives. We feel angry, frustrated, anxious and depressed. Despite our helplessness, there are some things that we can do to protect ourselves and to help others.

All challenges are the same. It is natural to feel helpless, frustrated, depressed and anger. Embraced that feeling for awhile. However, you need to go beyond that in order to successfully overcome the challenge. You can’t live with your negative emotions forever.

So, what are you going to do about it?

The Right Approach

The fact is, the challenges that you encounter in life will never go away on their own. You need to face and address them. You need to have the right attitude. Start by acceptance. Then, you need to detach yourself from the problem and look at it from a different perspective. By doing so, you will be able to discover your strengths and new abilities that you have never known before. It is ok to ask for help or reach out to others if you feel that it is too much for you to handle alone.

Of course, you always have to option to feel distressed. You can blame it on others. You can even choose to harm yourself and others. But you can also choose to fight. You can choose to stand up again and not be defeated. The decision is yours to take.

It is not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.
– Epictetus

Join us this month as we help you go rise above your challenges. Together, let us all overcome whatever it is that we are going through and emerge as stronger, healthier, happier and better persons in the process.

Feature Image by Kryzsztof Pluta from Pixabay Images

Mar

2020

Proper Mindset in Times of Crisis

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Everyone has to go through a crisis in life. It can be the loss of a loved one, a financial issue, a health problem, a conflict with a colleague, a lack of motivation or a pandemic. Whatever it is, it is all part of life. It can lead to despair and anxiety but with the proper mindset and correct strategies in place, you can emerge out of it as a better version of yourself.

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links. We earn a small incentive at no additional cost to you when you follow the link to make a purchase. This will help us be able to continue creating valuable content for you.

Problems in life are actually opportunities in disguise.

Every adversity is an opportunity for you to change your life for the better. It allows you to figure out what you are capable of. Growth only happens if you successfully navigate through them and learn the lessons in the process. It is going to be tough but it is possible to go through it successfully. All you need is to have the correct mindset.

Your mindset is the way you look at things. You need to believe that you can overcome whatever it is that you are going through right now. Believe in yourself. Remember that your mindset affects the direction of your life.

Whether you think you can or can’t, you are right.
– Henry Ford

Here are things that you can do to develop the proper mindset in times of crisis:

1. Acceptance

There are some problems that you can quickly solve but there are others that will be beyond your control. You may feel helpless. You may also feel anguish and pain. That is ok. You just have to learn and accept. Accept things that you cannot change. No matter how much you stress yourself about the situation, you need to move on.

2. Practice Gratitude

The practice of gratitude can help you through tough times. In fact, it is essential. Gratitude will help you look for the silver lining in every situation. Instead of focusing on the negative, gratitude will help you identify and magnify the blessings. It will make you feel optimistic and hopeful because your focus will shift from the negative to the positive. Start your gratitude journal now.

3. Have a Positive Attitude

It is easy to have a positive attitude when things are doing well. It is very difficult to do so when things are tough. Rather, it is much easier to drown in despair and self-pity. No matter how hard, keep in mind that the only road to a better life is to have a positive attitude.

You cannot control what happens to you in life, but you can always control what you feel and do about what happens to you.
— Harold S. Kushner

Your mindset and attitude about life are both very important. Your mindset will affect the direction of your life whether it is happiness, good health, financial abundance or success that you are seeking.

Change Your Mindset from P overty Mindset to Abundance Mindset

4. Practice Mindfulness

Learn to quiet your mind. Meditate. Find calmness within yourself. The practice of mindfulness helps you deal with the negative emotions like fear, panic, sadness and pain. It is very effective in reducing stress and anxiety. It will also help you get in touch with your inner self. If you need assistance on how to practice meditation and mindfulness, sometimes it helps to seek the help of professionals who can teach you the practice of positive self-transformation.

5. Adopt and Act on The Situation

Instead of waiting for things to be better, do whatever you can to make it better now. Don’t wait for tomorrow. Your future begins today. Get rid of your stubbornness. Learn to adapt to the situation.

Just take for example the COVID-19 pandemic, Wherever you are in the world right now, you are affected. While a great number of people are not infected by the virus physically, the economic and even psychological impact has greatly affected millions of people around the world. You may be powerless to eliminate the problem but you can do something to lessen the impact in your life. You can keep yourself healthy by following the basic rule to combat diseases or do some simple things to improve your finances during a crisis.

If you can follow these things, one day you will be surprised that you have passed the crisis successfully. You have become a better person. You are now more mature to face future challenges.

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