Emotional Stability

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Emotional Stability

• Take a step back when a task or situation overwhelms you. Getting out of the situation for just a little bit will help you relax and put things into perspective. Try breathing techniques, meditation, or take on a task that can temporarily distract you, like cleaning, building, baking, or playing with a beloved pet. It will clear your head and maybe help you find a solution that you wouldn't have come to mind otherwise.

• Recognize the signs of exhaustion. Low energy, lack of motivation, irritability and anxiety, among other signs, can all signal exhaustion. Even the most resilient people know when they need a vacation, time alone, relaxation, and renewal.

• Talk it out. Sometimes all it takes when a molehill looks like a mountain is to talk it over with a friend who can offer an objective opinion and some emotional support.

• Use the one, five, or ten-year rule. When you're worried about a problem or issue, think about how you will feel about the situation in one year, five years, or ten years. You will either think nothing of it, or you will regret not taking action. Whatever the case may be, you will have the motivation to fight against the setback or to move on with your life.

• Look for the positive in negative situations. In every situation there is a skill or lesson to be learned, or other benefits to seemingly awful circumstances. By looking for the silver lining, no matter how small, you can at least find some meaning in setbacks, tragedies, and disappointments. An illness in the family can be bring people closer together. A job loss could be the just the opportunity or push you need to pursue your true passion. A breakup could give you some well-needed solo time.

• Write down your strengths and accomplishments. Explore why you should be proud of yourself and review this list often if you're feeling down. Don't be hard on yourself or gauge your successes by somebody else's measure because you are unique and special in your own way.

• View setbacks as short-lived. If you find yourself plunging into negativity after a disappointment, remind yourself that things can get better. If you're having a hard time at work or relationship problems, look at these issues as temporary. Whatever the situation, you can take proactive steps to deal with the underlying issues. Even if you are faced with something that you will have to deal with for a lifetime (like a health problem or family issue), there is always some way to improve it or mitigate it's affect on you. You will grow stronger, heal, or find better ways to cope.

• Avoid self-fulfilling prophecies. If you believe you will fail, there's a good chance that you will. Expect the worst from people and that's what you will get. Belief is a powerful thing, and if you let yourself focus on the bad you're not creating the right conditions for the good to come your way.

• Refuse to be a victim. Renowned psychologist Dr. Martin Seligman says that the feeling of being a victim leads to learned helplessness. If you blame your problems on other people or circumstances, you will avoid taking personal responsibility for your own life. While it may be true that there are things that happen to you that are seemingly beyond your control, the majority of what does occur in your life is up to YOU. Most importantly, you are the one who decides how to react in trying situations.

• Fight Isolation. Resilient people lean on others when they need to, and develop meaningful relationships that help pull them through difficult times. Although you shouldn't depend exclusively on others to hold you together emotionally, having a support network is certainly beneficial. If you don't feel you have people you can turn to, go out and find them. Join a support group online or offline.

• Laughter is the ultimate stress-buster. Although you may not feel like laughing, you'll be surprised to discover that, even in the darkest moments, your sense of humor is still somewhere deep inside. Whether it's a giggle from a joke or an outright belly laugh from a friend's goofy antics, you'll feel better! Seek out the things that make you snicker!

• Seek help if you can't deal with stress, anxiety, or other difficult emotions. Don't be afraid to get professional help if you just aren't coping well on your own. Don't allow yourself to worry about any potential stigma from seeking therapy. Family members and friends who really care about you will not judge you. Psychological health is true wealth.

Openness

• Try something new and see how it goes. A lot of people are scared to branch out and try something new and unexpected because they are worried about what might happen. Chances are, however, that if you try something new, you'll be surprised at how much you'll enjoy it. If you refuse to try new things, you're limiting the experiences you can have in life and risk boredom and stagnancy.

• Learn a little give and take. People low in openness are often known for their inflexibility towards others. If you find that this is the case with you, learn the benefits of give and take. Try to put your foot down only when things are really important to you. Being flexible the majority of the time will encourage others to do the same when a matter is really important to you.

• Harness the power of brainstorming. The next time you find yourself in a difficult situation or need a creative idea, sit down with a pen and paper and list any and all ideas you can come up with. Don't limit yourself in any way - no matter how outlandish, the idea should be written down. This exercise has two benefits: First, it may awaken creativity in you that you never knew you had, and second, it can provide ideas for solutions you never would have thought of otherwise.

• Open your heart to those who are different from you. It's so easy to make judgment calls; so much harder to put aside our judgments and look at the world and other people from a purely objective standpoint. The only way to appreciate how you are different from others is to learn about those differences. For example, by learning about diverse cultures, you'll better understand people who are not from your country and what it's like to live in their society. By volunteering, you'll be better equipped to understand and empathize with the less fortunate. Strive to see the world through the eyes of others.

• Accept that there is often more than one perspective. Stubbornly insisting that