We have all been in a place at some point in our lives where we felt as if we hit rock bottom.

Still, we survived.

Despite thinking it wasn’t possible at the time, we still made it through.

This year has been full of unexpected turns, and it has pushed a lot of us into a dark place. Some had to face personal losses while many got into financial troubles.

As a politically divided nation it feels as if we are collectively in a new rock bottom and we may not be getting out of it.

Whatever the circumstances don’t lose hope. History shows we humans always find a way back, even stronger than before.

Acknowledge

The first step to finding your way back is to acknowledge the situation. Know fully well where you are and how much trouble you are in.

If you are pretending that things are still good and not seeing things the way they are, then you risk fooling yourself.

You can’t run away from problems by acting out or make them go away simply with temporary fixes like abusing alcohol, drugs, or other addictive behaviors.

“The first step to overcoming rock bottom is to become well aware of your situation and prepare yourself to face it.”

Everyone might have a different rock bottom. You cannot compare your problems with people around you.

We have all had a unique journey growing up, and we have had our own unique challenges, but we also have the capacity to face them.

You might feel that things are not working your way. Do not give up. Acknowledge and see things exactly the way they are.

“Always be willing to face the truth for what it is instead of what it could be.”

Accept

Once you acknowledge the situation you are in, you need to accept it. Acceptance does not mean you have to be ok with it and give in.

If you realize that you are stuck, and accept that you are stuck, you can start working on a way to get yourself out of it.

Take full responsibility for your life outcomes and seek help if you need it. There is no point in getting your ego involved in such a situation by facing challenges alone.

You may have pulled yourself out of difficult situations in the past. But, if you have rightly acknowledged and accepted that you have hit rock bottom, then you need to change your approach.

Look for support from people you trust.

“If you want to climb out of a pit and grow at the same time, you have to get the support you need from those who have already paved the way.”

Grow Through Pain

Ryan Haddon, a Life coach, Hypnotherapist, Spiritual Mentor, and Meditation Teacher, believes that when we hit rock bottom, the accompanying pain gives us an opportunity to strengthen ourselves.

While most people prefer to run away from pain, or wallow in the pain, you can choose to get through it.

“If you are going through hell, why would you stop there? The door to your freedom is just a few more steps into the fire”

If you are in a difficult place, try to figure out how you ended up there. If you know, you won’t have to be in the same place the next time. Avoid your past mistakes by practicing self-awareness.

According to Ryan, who was a guest on my season three podcast Rant & Grow, pain is a chance to learn to see where you went wrong and how you can grow out of it.

Once you acknowledge, accept, and take responsibility, you get the chance at a better life.

“Don’t stress over problems. You have them because you’ve been chosen to overcome them and pave the way for the rest of us.”

Connect to Your Inner Self

It is possible that external circumstances pushed you into difficult situations, with no fault of your own.

At such times, you can tap into your spiritual self, and try to see the bigger picture as to what your role needs to be moving forward.

Acknowledge the Universe for throwing a problem at you, and then connect with your spiritual self. This practice will help you let go of the loss, grief, and disappointment attached to the problem.

Ups and downs are a part of life. Your problems mean you have been chosen to face them because a higher power believes you can overcome them.

Anchor your thoughts to your inner self. Ryan suggests that we should try to explore our inner selves. 

Recognize your strengths, and work on your weaknesses.

“Derive power from within and have faith that you can pull yourself out of every situation”.

You may be one of those people who finds it hard to believe in an external spiritual entity, but you can trust your own internal spiritual energy.

If you know your true self, you can coach yourself out of every problem that the Universe throws at you.

Prepare for challenges by spending time with yourself. Seek support when you need it, meditate, pray, and connect with your own spiritual energy.

This practice will empower your to be able to adopt a “what’s next’ attitude about life. Afterall, nothing is permanent, and the more we tackle life with an attitude of what’s next? the more powerful we become.

Check out the Rant & Grow podcast episode with Ryan. Maybe you’ll discover some wisdom for your own life. You can listen to the podcast right here.