Handling setbacks with ease

One of the more opposing aspects of life is dealing with challenging parts of the journey. While I do not want to put a negative spin on anything, I personally don’t enjoy using the term with setbacks. However, sometimes life simply has scenarios that happen that cause us to handle more challenges with care for us. From job losses, car accidents to even more difficult experiences we can face as humans. Life indeed ebbs and flows like the waves in the ocean, so handling any challenges with more ease helps stay afloat. Let’s explore how you can better handle setbacks with ease.

What Does “Setback” Mean To You?

One of the biggest things I have noticed is that I have an overall negative association with the word “setback.” This term has a negative feeling, to begin with, and I avoid negativity almost to an unhealthy degree anymore for my own mental health benefit. For example, setbacks have not always been the easiest for me to handle. Although setbacks can be challenging, I often take the time to reflect on what I learned from them. When situations and outcomes don’t go my ideal way, I aim to look back at stories in my life where the setbacks weren’t necessarily setbacks, just redirections or reroutes on my path.  

How To See The Big Picture When Faced With Setbacks

A specific example of a setback actually being a redirection would be when I was climbing Mt. Everest this past Spring of 2021. When you climb Mt. Everest, you often climb halfway up the mountain and then retreat to the basecamp. Many times, it doesn’t seem to make sense that you climb this large mountain and then have to go back to the base at the end of the day, yet there is a reason behind it. Even though our mind wants to go forward with the climb, our bodies are not ready to continue.

This scenario was the first time I experienced summit fever. When climbing, we often need to acclimatize our bodies to avoid exposing ourselves to less oxygen environments, which stresses our bodies. Therefore, you retreat down the mountain in order for your body to turn that stress into more blood cells, so the next time you go up the mountain climb, you are physically able since your body adapted. This experience can often be perceived as a setback, yet it is a step into what is needed to move forward when looking at the bigger picture.

Giving Yourself Grace When Faced With Challenges

When we are faced with challenges in life and situations, it can be hard to see the bigger picture with it all. Also, as humans, we can sometimes let our emotions get the best of us and may struggle to see the silver lining or the lessons to be learned with setbacks in life. Giving yourself grace and being kind to yourself is critical to navigating and handling challenges with ease. By giving yourself grace, you realize that none of us is perfect; it’s okay to take time for you and permit yourself to say no. Having a more positive mindset and handling setbacks with ease, giving yourself more grace is truly key.