There are some days, some weeks, and even some entire months where it feels like everything happens all at once and you can’t seem to catch a break. It can feel immensely discouraging in those moments when you feel all you’re doing is fighting an uphill battle. Like running up a sandy hill, and the harder you try to climb, the faster the sand tries to kick you down. It feels relentless and overwhelming.

Maybe you got sick at the worst time possible. Perhaps you got into a car accident and now you’re out of a car, yet you need to figure out transportation not just for you but for your kids or family too. Maybe you got laid off from your job and are going through a breakup all at once. Whatever it may be, I know how everything can feel like it is culminating all at once, and it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

It is important, however, in those moments to not let yourself go down a dark tunnel of thoughts. In order to keep putting one foot in front of the other, you have to learn how to pick yourself up again when everything else seems to be falling apart.

How do you do that when all you feel like doing is spiraling into a negative slump of self pity? It’s ok to have a moment to feel sorry for yourself and even cry about it, but it’s important not to let yourself get stuck in that moment and to learn to pick yourself back up again.

Below I will give you the gentle encouragement you need during this difficult time. When everything seems to be going wrong, I will help point the way to where things are going right. The following gentle tips will help guide you to picking yourself up again when life has kicked you down. Know that it’s ok to feel how you feel, but it’s not ok to let yourself stay in that low place. Together we will get through this, because I believe in you.

Be gentle with yourself

Being gentle with yourself is such an important first step. When everything seems to be going wrong, it’s important to have compassion for yourself. Take a pause and allow yourself to grieve and feel down. You just went through so much in such a short amount of time and you need to give yourself time to process it all.

When life hits you like a wave and you get knocked down, allow yourself to absorb everything that just happened. It’s ok to feel overwhelmed, frustrated or upset. It’s necessary to feel and process all those emotions. Wrap yourself in a warm hug and tell yourself you’re gonna get through this. I know at this moment the mountain may feel too big to climb, but little by little you will overcome it.

Don’t beat yourself up for things going wrong because sometimes life just happens and often is out of your control. Focus on what you can control beginning with how you speak to yourself. Be kind to yourself, and allow yourself to feel whatever you need to feel. It’s going to be ok. One day at a time, you will recover from it all and come out on top, better than you were before. I know you can’t see it right now so it can be hard to believe it, but please know you will get there.

Find joy in the little things

Finding joy in the little things in life can spark happiness again in these gloomy days. Start with small little joys in your day and gradually they will build overtime, spilling over and shifting your perspective on life again.

Start with something small like enjoying a cup of cocoa at home or with a friend. Go for a walk in the sunshine and enjoy the freshness in the air. Light some candles and draw yourself a warm bubble bath. Buy yourself your favorite treat and enjoy it guilt free while watching your favorite show or movie. Heat up a cozy blanket in the dryer and then wrap yourself in it like a warm hug. Read your favorite book or work on a creative project that’s just for fun, and just for you.

Whatever small joys you find in your day, they will help bring the encouragement you need to get through this difficult time. Seek out these little joys in your life. Be intentional to set aside time for them. It will be more than worth your time to do so.

Lean on others

During difficult times it’s so important to lean on others for support. Your loved ones and close friends can offer perspective and encouragement when life has been kicking you down. They can also be a listening ear to vent to if you feel you need that.

Even just a warm hug and a shoulder to cry on can be so healing. This is a tender time in your life. You got the wind kicked out of you and the rug swept under your feet. It’s ok to feel how you feel right now. Let the love from others fill up your cup and be the support you need right now. Remember, you don’t need to carry everything on your own.

Focus on the small steps

When unexpected circumstances pile up, it can feel overwhelming to know what to do next. Focusing on the small baby steps in these moments can really help inch you forward from the stuck, stagnant feeling you may have into something proactive and productive.

When so much is happening all at once in your life, focus on the smallest micro tasks in your day to help you get through. This can be as small as writing in your calendar or to-do list what needs to be done, or simply making your bed in the morning. This can be doing one small task off your to-do list just to get the momentum going.

By focusing on the small tasks in your day it becomes less overwhelming. Your stress levels also start to come down as you do start accomplishing these small tasks because it builds confidence and reassurance that everything you need to complete to get through this difficult time will get done. You can rest in the reassurance that you will get through this, and that every massive achievement is always done through these little baby steps along the way.

Find gratitude

Gratitude can be hard to seek when life has been hitting you hard. Yet at the same time, finding gratitude, even in the small moments, will help expand little joys and moments of happiness in your life. Gratitude is the portal to abundance. Whatever we are grateful for in life, expands.

Gratitude is a living prayer that instantly shifts you from scarcity to abundance, from fear to love, from illusion to divine truth. Gratitude carries a very high and abundant frequency. It carries the frequency of “already having” that which you desire. It is the state of assuming that your wish has already been fulfilled.

The more grateful you are, the more you have to be grateful for. The more grateful you are, the more beautiful life becomes. If you love someone, tell them. If you are grateful for someone, tell them. Open up your heart and let your words spill out. Set your heart free, and let love pour in.

Final Thoughts

Life can really kick you down sometimes. It is important not to blame yourself in these moments or beat yourself up, as often these circumstances are outside our control. It is important to begin focusing on what you can control and the things that you cannot, seek support for comfort to grieve and help process all these emotions.

For the things that you can control, focus on the baby steps and micro tasks. Focus on the little joys in your day and be intentional to seek them out. What brings you joy will always expand your happiness.

For the things you cannot control, remember to seek out support in your friends and loved ones. You do not need to carry all this weight on your own. Remember to be gentle and compassionate with yourself, and seek out gratitude, even in the smallest of things, for whatever you are grateful for expands.

I know this is a very difficult time for you, but you are stronger than you know, and you will get through this. Breathe through these moments, and continue to put one foot in front of the other. I believe in you.