PART FOUR: DEVELOPING HEALTHY COPING MECHANISMS

At one point or another, life is going to get hard. We live in a fallen world so there is no way that life can be rosie all the time. 

When the tough times hit, you and I are bound to turn to something to help us cope. The question is; What will we turn to? 

Developing healthy coping mechanisms is essential for managing difficult emotions and stressful situations. Adopting maladaptive coping strategies, such as alcohol and drug abuse, is of no benefit to you as it only adds to your already existing problems. Therefore, developing sound strategies to handle the pressures of life is imperative. That being said, here are some tips to help you develop healthy coping mechanisms:

Identify your triggers: Take some time to think about what situations or emotions cause you to become overwhelmed. Once you understand your triggers, you can start to plan ahead and create strategies to help you cope. 

Practice deep breathing: Deep breathing can be a great way to calm your mind and body and help you stay in the present moment. Take a few deep breaths when you notice your emotions getting out of control.

Talk to someone: Talking to someone you trust can be a great way to gain perspective on a difficult situation and receive support and guidance. In view of this, it is wise to seek the help of a professional counsellor or therapist because, not only will this afford you a safe space to air out your thoughts and emotions, but it will also help you learn new and heathy coping skills and techniques to better manage your daily stressors. 

Take a break: When you feel overwhelmed, take a break and do something that you enjoy to help you relax. Engage in a hobby. This will help distract your mind from stressors and also afford you some much needed "me" time.

Practice self-care: Taking care of yourself is essential for managing stress and difficult emotions. Incorporate activities into your day that make you feel good, like taking a hot bath or going for a jog or even watching your favourite TV show. 

Develop a relationship with God: The importance of trusting in God to get through the difficult seasons of life can not be overemphasized. Needless to say, trusting God is easier when you actually have a good relationship with Him because, quite frankly, you can not trust someone you do not know. You can't put faith in someone who's credibility you have not tried and tested. 

Having a good relatonship with God is at the core of developing trust in Him. And that trust in Him, that trust in His faithfulness and in the truth of His Word, is what will keep you strong when the going gets tough. 

It's a wrap on this episode. Join me in the next episode which will feature my girl, Namoonga Hamapande. She will share all the knowledge that she has aquired on her journey to financial independence. 

In the meantime, please grab your copy of my latest e-book- 'Manage stress in six easy Steps', as a supplement to the coping mechanism tips shared with you here.