Life is a journey of unexpected twists, turns, and, sometimes, brutal setbacks. Just when you feel like everything is going great, one part of your life decides to completely unravel, leaving you spiraling and reaching blindly for a sense of stability. Whether you lose your job, get dumped, or fall out with a friend or family member, you’re going to need a solid plan to get back on your feet. When life spins you around, here’s how you can recenter yourself and aim for success once again.
Go on an Adventure
Few things in life have the clarifying impact of going on an adventure, and yes, that means traveling to some place new. Maybe you have never left your hometown before and all it will take to find yourself again is a trip to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, but there’s so much more out there to explore.
If you’re wondering why you would force yourself to travel in the aftermath of a disappointment, it’s because travel has a way of stripping away all the unnecessary parts of life and revealing what and who you truly are within. From seeing history come to life on a sun-soaked Mediterranean cruise to spending a day breathing the frigid thin air at Annapurna Base Camp, the world is truly your playground. Life is out there waiting for you to reach forward and take the first step.
Escape Into Nature
You might not have the resources or time to get out of the country, but you can still escape into nature. From pine forests to green lakes and the thundering ocean, nature has many healing experiences to offer. If you can take a three-day weekend and go stay in a cabin in the woods, it will surely do you good. It’s not just that nature is quiet and that quiet is soothing, but it’s also good for the soul.
In Japan, the practice of tree bathing is a form of preventative health care. This is a practice where you enter a space fully surrounded by trees and nature, it can even be a quiet park, and just let yourself be for at least thirty minutes.
Make a Vision Board
In a very different vein, one that involves staying at home, you can also make a vision board as a part of your re-centering journey. While this might scream mid-2000s middle school craft assignment, it’s something that can impact your mindset. Celebrities such as Lilly Singh swear by it. Here are some tips on how to make an awesome vision board:
- Get to the heart of what matters to you
- Include short and long-term goals
- Raid a thrift store for magazines
- Print off Pinterest images
- Use powerful words and short phrases
- Hang it somewhere you will see it
Focus on Your Health
It’s easy to spiral after you have a setback, which is why you have to consciously focus on your health. You don’t have to kill yourself with supersets at the gym, but it’s important to stay physically active. Go on regular walks or go jogging or swimming to help you keep in shape.
Don’t neglect your mental health either. Have regular check-ins with yourself, whether that’s in a journal or just over a cup of tea in the middle of the day with a bit of self-reflection. Make sure you participate in activities that you enjoy and keep yourself busy with hobbies that spark your interest.
Connect with Friends and Family
This point comes last, but connecting with friends and family should never be low on your priority list. It’s not easy to ask for help, but you have to remember that you are not alone. Your family and friends can give you a sense of perspective about how amazing you are, which just might be the boost you need to get back to an optimistic mindset.
Re-centering is an art. It isn’t something you can accomplish in one day or after one vacation. To maintain a newfound sense of self, you have to build good habits and stick to them over time.
