Despite the different endings you might have heard to this saying, nothing beats the original, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
Every now and then we find ourselves faced with or struggling through a challenge - finishing a household or work-related project that taxes us to our limits, starting a business in a highly competitive field, manoeuvring through an emotional transition, recovering from a major physical trauma. And at some point in that process we find ourselves stuck and wondering when we will get through to the other side. Although we might supportive people around us, and have prayed for help and deliverance, there comes a time when we have to simply get up from the chair and off our knees and get moving. We have to get cracking on some action that will keep us in a productive and progressive loop.
If you're tired of sitting under the weight of a challenging situation, here are a few things you can do to get going in the midst of your tough time.
Manage the process
One lousy brick at a time is how you build a house. One action, just one can jumpstart your “get going” muscles. There is immense satisfaction in taking action that creates a direct result. And when we are faced with a long-term project, simple measureable actions can provide the rhythm we need to complete it. Pick something that you can do in a specific time frame that has a definitive beginning, middle and end.
Focus on the Desired Outcome
We are such suckers for What if..., Suppose... and If only.... Instead, we should shift our focus from what or who hurt us, derailed us or blocked us to the dream, the success, the happiness and fulfilment we want. Acknowledge all the things and people who may have contributed to the difficult situation. Do you really want to move past this point? Look inward for what tugs at your heart strings; upward for God's blessing on your heart's desire and forward towards the end or accomplishment you desire. Therein lies the pump that will get you going.
Savour your Accomplishments
Everyone needs a little "pick me up" every now and then and reading about your accomplishments and how people have praised you and your work is guaranteed to make you feel better. So, anytime you receive praise, put it in storage. When was the last time you took the time to acknowledge your accomplishments? Take a moment to make a list of the things you are most proud of accomplishing in your life. This simple gesture and reflection may give you that extra boost of energy you need to move through your current challenge.
Give Thanks
You are alive to face this challenge and despite the stress you're experiencing, you can still think clearly. That is as simple as you can get yet it is the ultimate blessing to be thankful for. Notice what is in your life, rather than focusing on what is lacking. This can be like a breath of fresh air when our minds are consumed with finding solutions to our troubling circumstances.
Pamper Yourself
There is hardly a woman who had not experienced the rejuvenating and energizing power of a visit to a salon. Even a simple do-it-yourself beautifying can rev up our self-confidence. Try being extra kind to yourself when you esteem is flagging. Sometimes a mere change in environment or a different activity is just the thing you need to jumpstart yourself.
Laugh
Our sense of humour is one of the first things to go when the crunch of daily life and its unexpected events becomes too heavy to carry. Things take on a serious tone because we are so focused on getting past the demands. Take a moment to have fun and to laugh. Keeping things light will help you reconnect to the big picture and you'll quickly find yourself in a better mood and frame of mind to deal with the issues at hand.
Reach Out
Tap into other like-minded and positive people and be ready for a shift in perspective. Make those long-promised calls, write to an old friend. Recruit a few friends to serve as members of your dream team. Share your vision and mission statement, request they input to enhance your development plan. There is no reason to do everything alone all the time. If you are feeling drained, now might be a good time to connect with the people who care about you and want to see you succeed and be happy.
Be Charitable
Random acts of kindness benefit both parties. Helping others gives us a new perspective on the difficulties we may currently be experiencing. The key here is to give with an open heart and not out of a sense of duty or begrudgingly. Choose an organization whose mission is dear to your heart. Identify a family or person who needs your advice, time or undivided attention.
Many of the famous people we admire today used these and similar tactics to deal with rejection, loss, humiliation and life-threatening events. You may never be famous but going on in spite of tough times can be your legacy to your loved ones. Moreover, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that when the going got tough, you got going.
Because everyone can use a little inspiration now and then, here are some examples of people who kept on going, even when the going was tough. And many of us have benefited from what they created with their gifts, talents and get going determination:
- The Beatles were turned down by ten recording companies before Capitol took them on as clients. They kept knocking on doors until the right one opened. Their music has now touched billions of lives.
- Albert Einstein did not speak until he was four years old, and didn't read until he was seven. His teacher described him as "mentally slow, unsociable, and adrift forever in foolish dreams." Einstein reshaped our perception of how the Universe operates. Time Magazine named him the "Person of the 20th Century".
- Before he was elected to the presidency, Abraham Lincoln lost nine public elections, declared bankruptcy twice, and weathered a nervous breakdown and the death of a fiancée. He is quoting as saying: "You cannot fail unless you quit."
- Harrison Ford played a bellboy in his first Columbia picture, 1966's "Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round," and a studio executive told him, "You ain't got it, kid," the "it" being star quality. Ford laughs at the story now.
- Thomas Edison tried two thousand different materials in search of a filament for the light bulb. When none of them worked out, his assistant complained, "All our work is in vain. We have learned nothing." Edison replied confidently, "Oh, we have come a long way and we have learned a lot. We now know that there are two thousand elements which we cannot use to make a good light bulb."
- Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor for his lack of ideas. He also went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland.
