If you have been struggling lately with troubles or challenges, you’re not alone. This is a completely normal part of life. In fact, if everything always worked out in your favor, that would be the anomaly. But just because you have had a lot of setbacks in your life, doesn’t mean you can’t overcome them. You are strong and capable of doing anything. No matter how bad things might seem, there is a way to find that strength inside, learn from them, and overcome them.
Look for Meaning Behind Your Obstacles
To overcome troubles in your life, you need to identify the meaning behind them. There is a lesson to be learned even from the biggest failures or the saddest moments of your life. What kind of meaning can you find?
Remember the meaning isn’t always obvious right away and might not even seem like a good thing in the beginning. If the trouble you are experiencing that you lost your job and are now struggling to find a new one of the same type, maybe the meaning behind this is a new career path altogether, relocating somewhere else, or looking for a different type of company. Moving forward in this case might be sitting for a minute in your grief, then deciding to change the trajectory of your life.
Remove What Isn’t Necessary
As you overcome your obstacles, focus on resources that will help you and what is actually in your control. Avoid anything that doesn’t serve you, from drama and toxic energy, to hurdles that aren’t yours to jump through. Not every trouble you experience needs to become an overly dramatic challenge in your life. Sometimes, it’s just a sign that the path wasn’t really meant for you.
But if you find that following an obstacle, you discover people in your life who are not supportive or who bring you down even further, now is the time to spend less time with them. Instead, focus on the people in your life who are supportive, the things that bring you joy, and your next steps as you move forward onto bigger and better things.
Be Open to New Ideas
Try to have an open mind in order to find new ideas when it comes to resolving the troubles you are hoping to overcome. Finding new ideas can feel a little overwhelming in the beginning, because you want to just focus on what went wrong in your life. The negative experiences do sometimes outweigh the potential positive experiences but try to find your strength.
Open your mind to other possibilities. Whether you find a solution to the original problem or use it as a guide to finding an entirely new path, the more open-minded you can be, the easier it will be to find another path.
#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation
website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
Link for 40 Habits Signup
bit.ly/40HabitsofMentalHealth
www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com
You Find Your Power Through the Experience
Every experience you have in your life is where your power to overcome begins. These experiences are shaping who you are and who you will become. As a youth, you don’t have all the power you are going to possess one day, so if you are young and trying to get through challenges, just accept that you don’t know everything right now, and find a away to keep trying and keep moving forward. As you get older and learn more from these experiences, your own inner power will begin to strengthen.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Asking others for help and support does not take away from your power. The strongest people know when it is time to reach out for help, get support from friends, and seek the knowledge of people who are experts in this particular field.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
