How to Maintain a Great Mindset When It’s Hard to Find the Good in Things
There are days when life feels overwhelming, when obstacles seem endless, and it can feel nearly impossible to find any silver lining. Whether it’s due to personal struggles, a challenging work situation, or just the weight of the world on your shoulders, maintaining a positive mindset during tough times is no easy feat. But the good news is that even in the darkest moments, it’s possible to shift your perspective, cultivate resilience, and retrain your mind to see the good—no matter how small it may seem.
In this blog post, we’ll explore practical ways to keep your mindset strong and positive, even when it feels like nothing is going your way.
Here is a Great list of Books I highly recommend to start retraining your mind
1.Marcus Aurelius – Meditations: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader
2.The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
3.The Self-Motivation Mindset Journal for Men: A 7-Step Guide for Self-Improvement
1. Acknowledge Your Feelings Without Judgement
The first step in maintaining a positive mindset is to allow yourself to feel your emotions without shame or self-criticism. It’s okay to feel frustrated, sad, angry, or discouraged. These feelings are valid and human. By acknowledging them, you’re giving yourself permission to process what’s going on inside your mind and body.
- What to do: Instead of brushing your emotions under the rug or trying to force a smile, take a moment to sit with your feelings. Ask yourself what you’re really feeling and why. Sometimes, simply identifying your emotions can take the power away from them and allow you to move through them more effectively.
Why It Works:
When you stop trying to suppress or deny difficult emotions, you’re less likely to experience them as overwhelming or consuming. This makes it easier to regain control over your thoughts and shift your focus toward a more positive outlook.
2. Shift Your Focus to What You Can Control
One of the most powerful mindset shifts you can make is to focus on what you can control, rather than dwelling on things that are out of your hands. We often get stuck in the cycle of thinking about everything that’s going wrong, which only fuels feelings of helplessness. But the truth is, there’s always something within your control—no matter how small.
- What to do: Start by writing down a list of things you can control, even if it’s just one small action. It could be how you react to a situation, what you choose to eat that day, or the decision to take a short walk for mental clarity. By directing your energy toward what you can do, you’ll feel more empowered and less defeated.
- Here is one of my favorite men’s journals to help get you started, click here.
Why It Works:
Focusing on what’s within your power helps you feel more grounded and reduces anxiety about the unknown. It’s a way to regain a sense of agency and build confidence in your ability to handle whatever life throws your way.
3. Practice Gratitude—Even for the Small Things
Gratitude is a powerful tool for shifting your mindset, especially when things seem bleak. Research has shown that practicing gratitude can boost your mood, improve your relationships, and increase overall well-being. But when life feels tough, it might be hard to find anything to be thankful for. This is where starting small can make all the difference.
- What to do: Write down three things you’re grateful for every day. They don’t have to be grand—sometimes, it’s the little things that matter most. It could be the warmth of your morning coffee, a text from a friend, or the fact that you have a roof over your head. The goal is to shift your attention toward the positive aspects of your life, however small they may seem.
- Studies have shown that writing these 3 things down that your grateful for can increase mood, sleep, well being and happiness, here is a gratitude journal for men that will significantly help start your journey, click here.
Why It Works:
Gratitude helps rewire your brain to look for the good, even in difficult times. When you intentionally focus on what you appreciate, you can train your mind to see opportunities for joy and connection, even when things are challenging.
4. Practice Self-Compassion
It’s easy to be hard on yourself when you’re struggling, especially if you’re used to holding yourself to high standards. However, negative self-talk and self-criticism only make the situation worse. Practicing self-compassion is about treating yourself with the same kindness and understanding that you would offer to a friend going through a tough time.
- What to do: Next time you feel frustrated or down, pause and ask yourself, “What would I say to a friend who’s feeling like this?” Chances are, you’d offer them words of encouragement and support. Practice doing the same for yourself by acknowledging your struggles and giving yourself permission to be imperfect.
Why It Works:
Self-compassion helps alleviate feelings of guilt and shame, allowing you to approach challenges with a more balanced and caring perspective. It fosters resilience, as you’re more likely to bounce back from setbacks when you treat yourself with kindness.
5. Take Action, Even Small Steps
When it feels like everything is falling apart, it’s easy to freeze or become paralyzed by fear. But the key to maintaining a positive mindset is to keep moving forward, even if it’s just one small step at a time. Action, no matter how minor, creates momentum and helps you break free from negative thought cycles.
- What to do: Pick one small, manageable task to accomplish each day. It could be something as simple as making your bed, sending an email, or going for a walk. Completing small tasks will help you feel a sense of accomplishment and regain confidence in your ability to handle challenges.
- Here is a great full focus task list to jumpstart your day and keep yourself organized, click here.
Why It Works:
Taking action, no matter how small, shifts your focus from feeling overwhelmed to feeling empowered. It gives you a sense of control and accomplishment, which can be a powerful antidote to negative thinking.
6. Connect with Others
Isolation can make tough times feel even harder. When you’re struggling, it’s important to reach out and connect with others—whether it’s friends, family, or a support group. Talking through your challenges with someone who listens and understands can provide perspective, reduce stress, and remind you that you’re not alone.
- What to do: Reach out to a trusted friend or family member and share what you’re going through. Don’t be afraid to ask for support or simply have a conversation about how you’re feeling. Connection is a powerful way to build resilience during tough times.
Why It Works:
Connecting with others helps reduce feelings of isolation and strengthens your sense of community. It also offers you a chance to receive emotional support, advice, and different perspectives that may help you see your situation in a new light.
7. Remember That Challenges Are Temporary
When you’re in the middle of a difficult situation, it can feel like it will never end. However, challenges are usually temporary, and keeping that in mind can help you maintain perspective. Every storm eventually passes, and you’ll likely emerge stronger from the experience.
- What to do: When you’re feeling stuck, remind yourself that this too shall pass. Reflect on past challenges you’ve overcome and use them as a reminder of your resilience. Take it one day at a time, knowing that things will get better.
- Here is a Highly recommended book I suggest for getting through tough times, click here.
Why It Works:
Understanding that struggles are temporary gives you hope and motivation to push through. It also helps you maintain a broader perspective, which can reduce feelings of helplessness and despair.
Conclusion: Cultivating a Great Mindset in Tough Times
Maintaining a positive mindset when life feels hard isn’t about ignoring reality or pretending everything is perfect. It’s about learning to navigate difficult times with resilience, compassion, and a willingness to look for the good—even in small doses. By acknowledging your feelings, focusing on what you can control, practicing gratitude, and taking action, you can cultivate a mindset that helps you grow stronger through adversity.
Remember, challenges are part of the human experience, but with the right tools and mindset, you have the power to rise above them and emerge more resilient, more compassionate, and more capable of handling whatever comes your way.