How to Find Courage When You Don’t Have the Answers

So many times in life we encounter moments where we don’t know what will happen next.

So many times in life we encounter moments where we don’t know what will happen next.
We don’t really know how things will turn out. In many cases, we don’t even know what to do.

What can we do in those times? How can we pull through when everything seems to have just derailed and gone sideways? How can we find the strength to keep going?

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Let go of the need to know why
It is imperative that you don’t torment yourself trying to find the reason or rationale behind what has occurred. You could potentially drive yourself crazy trying to figure out why. Trying to find a reason will not help you to find a solution. All it will do is torture you. The truth is, you may never know why. Let go of wanting to know why things are the way they are. Whatever the why may be, the fact is, it has already happened. You are already here. Don’t get stuck in the past. Let go.

Don’t let fear cripple you
Don’t give time and energy to fear, worry, anxiety, and stress because giving them your attention will grow them. We must also not overwhelm ourselves with worry and fear about the future. The future is not here yet. All we have to work with is the here and now. By worrying and stressing about what might happen next, we are disempowering ourselves in the present moment. We need to be here now. Especially during crisis! This moment is the only moment in which you can have any impact.

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Have faith
Find and attach yourself to the belief that everything will be OK. Have faith. Believe that faith will carry you through your hardships and through the unknown. Faith is that bridge. When we have faith we make a decision to not let our circumstances defeat us. Instead, we see beyond our circumstances to possibility. We believe that something will happen to help us through. We remain receptive to ideas and solutions. Instead of looking for evidence as to why we have been defeated, we look for evidence that we are supported. We start looking at what is working with us, what is working for us, and what is available to us. Faith shifts our perspective to one of possibility and hope.

Don’t panic
You may suddenly be faced with a situation you have never encountered before. It can be scary and uncomfortable but don’t lose your head! Remaining calm is going to make you much more effective at whatever you do next. It will help to also keep the people around you calm. Just by remaining calm, you can change the experience of the circumstances for yourself and others. Don’t give into fear. Don’t let it overtake you. Take deep controlled breaths. Regain control over your emotions, compartmentalize them for the moment if you need to, but don’t give into panic. Panic will not serve you. Work through your emotions when it is safe to do so, when they don’t set you into a state of full-blown panic.

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Don’t lose yourself in your circumstance
Continue to look after yourself, regardless the circumstance. If anything, this is the time to really step up the level of that care. Don’t neglect your needs. Don’t run yourself ragged. Pace yourself. Make time for you. We are more effective when we look after ourselves. If we look after ourselves, we feel better, and when we feel better, we operate better. Remember, the more you have, the more you have to give. Don’t try pouring from any empty cup. Don’t compound the problem by burning yourself out.

Enlist help
There is no shame in asking for help. Sometimes, even a little help can go a long way. It can give us that reprieve we need. Or perhaps, someone experienced can lend us a fresh perspective. Be ready to accept help when it is offered. Sometimes, unexpected help can arrive in the most unexpected ways. Don’t be so quick to dismiss people’s offer to help. Take the help you need. It will free you up to do other things, or perhaps, to engage in much needed self-care. Things are much easier when you aren’t trying to handle everything alone. Even just finding someone to talk to can be such a relief. You don’t have to be alone in your situation. If you are religious, give your problem to a higher power, especially when you are feeling overwhelmed. Pray and ask for help.

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Believe in your strength
Chances are, you have already been through a lot in your life. You have overcome and achieved so many things. Take a moment to reflect on that. Let it empower you. Don’t sell yourself short. You are strong! You can make it through this. Many times, we are much more capable than we give ourselves credit for. Believe that you are more capable than you think.

What are some ways in which you have found the strength to keep going?
Let’s use this opportunity to share some encouragement with each other.

Akiroq Brost