15 WAYS TO GRAPPLE WITH DISCOURAGEMENT AND EVENTUALLY WIN
The only reason encouragement matters is discouragement is real.
On June 2, 2011, I woke up discouraged and couldn’t think of anything to write. Then it hit me. Write about overcoming discouragement. I was embarrassed to post something so basic and raw, but it did much better than expected and generated good conversation.
The post was 22 POWERFUL WAYS TO OVERCOME DISCOURAGEMENT. This post is an edited version of the original.
I offer it again today because two emails came in from people who have lost loved ones. Other messages arrived this week from people facing career, business, personal, and employee challenges.
Everyone needs encouragement.
Lack of encouragement is discouragement.
15 ways to grapple with discouragement:
- Address the problem of feeling like you’re the only one. Ask trusted friends if they ever feel discouraged. In this sense, misery loves company.
- Change your environment. Get out. Get away. Change a routine.
- Sleep, but don’t over-sleep. Rest, but don’t over-rest.
- Take long walks.
- Lift someone else. Get outside yourself. The things you feel are common to others.
- Ride it out. Give yourself time. The word ‘Eventually’ in the title was intentional.
- Be kind to others. Hold the door open. Smile at people. Say thank you often and loudly.
- Celebrate small progress.
- Finish a task that you’ve been putting off.
- Let go anger. Forgive. Release bitterness. Just draw a line and start fresh with people. Don’t expect your pound of flesh.
- Protect yourself from blood suckers.
- Evaluate yourself. Use discouragement as motivation to reflect.
- Record what you’re learning about yourself and leadership. Journal.
- Remember that negative experiences often change us for the better.
- Pray.
Don’t:
- Beat yourself up because you feel discouraged.
- Wait for others to encourage you. Encourage yourself.
- Make important decisions.
What do you do to encourage yourself?
How do you encourage others?
I keep this quote on my wall at work: “I have learned that the best way to lift one’s self up is to help someone else.” Booker T. Washington
Brilliant. Thanks Shawn.
We did not get to where we are as leaders without expecting a lot out of ourselves. It is very easy to take it hard when we fail. I think its ok to beat our self up a bit but its better to just step back look at what happened and take corrected action as needed and move on. I do know I tend to take ownership of a failure just to move the team on. Not sure if that is healthy or not but the goal is to move on. Discouragement can turn into depression and that will take the wind right out of your sail. Back to yesterday, CALL A FRIEND. thank you Dan
Dan, thank you for EVERYTHING! My journey has been tough but I’m allowing it to mold me into a better man. Each step forward is the shaping, molding and polishing of my character…of my life. As I pause to rest, I look behind me (reflect) and I see all the great people who made cameo appearances in my life, just at the right time. Was it by chance? Definitely not! He who made me is so much greater.
Wonderful post. Austin Kleon has a wonderful piece – The Demons Hate Fresh Air. It gets to your point! https://austinkleon.com/2017/12/11/the-demons-hate-fresh-air/
Nailed it again…I’ve said it before, but Mr. Dan Rockwell…well, rocks the blog well. One of my mindfulness gurus is always in my head for #2…(really? Connie? #2? calling myself out now). She tells me to “move the body,” so I do. I walk around the building, go to the bathroom, walk in nature, go get the mail up the street, anything to move the body…even put on music and dance. It ALWAYS works because I set the intention and shift the energy with movement.
Thank you for the wonderful encouragement. Many times we are discouraged we kick ourselves down and feel so useless, but the above ways can help you get back up and realise your happiness was just close by!!