It’s impossible to avoid negative experiences, but that doesn’t mean you have to sit back and let them overwhelm you. Instead of feeling stressed, anxious, or even angry, you can take control of these emotions and find ways to stay calm after a negative experience. It takes a lot of hard work and practice, but it’s all in the service of giving yourself the good care you need to thrive.
Take Deep Breaths
When you find yourself caught in the tumultuous whirlwind of anxiety, your body’s natural response often manifests through breathing, which becomes shallow and rapid. This, unfortunately, can exacerbate your stress levels, creating a cycle that’s hard to break. When in these moments, try to take a deliberate step back in order to de-stress. Then, work on taking slow and deep breaths, pushing stress out of your body and mind.
Practice Mindfulness
Another great strategy to try and stay calm is to practice mindfulness and being fully present in the moment. When you’re present, you can pay close attention to your thoughts and feelings and do everything you can to keep negative thoughts and emotions out of your mind. Mindfulness techniques, such as meditation or focused breathing, can anchor you back to the present, helping to dissipate feelings of anxiety and anger.
Engage in Self-Care
Self-care becomes paramount after enduring a negative experience, serving as a crucial step toward emotional recovery and well-being. Indulge in activities that uplift your spirit and promote a sense of relaxation and peace. Some great forms of self-care you should consider include:
• Going for a walk
• Reconnecting with nature
• Diving into a book or movie
Self-care looks different for every person, so find what’s right for you and let your body and mind relax. Negative experiences can be temporary, so remind yourself of that by exploring the positive experiences in life that bring you joy.
Practice Positive Self-Talk
After experiencing a negative incident, it’s remarkably easy to find yourself in a damaging cycle of self-criticism and negative self-talk. These patterns of thinking can quickly spiral, only serving to deepen the distress and make it more challenging to move forward. Instead of negative self-talk, practice positive self-talk, taking the time to remind yourself of your resilience and ability to overcome challenges. This shift in mindset can be transformative, paving the way toward a more positive and self-compassionate outlook on life.
Staying calm after a negative experience isn’t easy, but it will help you in the long run. For example, if a natural disaster destroyed or damaged your home, you need to stay calm and professional. You can grieve and be sad, but you also need to move forward so that even when you’re negotiating with an insurance company for your claim, things can go smoothly. Reacting too negatively and letting anger take over will hurt you and your recovery process. Do what you can to stay calm and look forward so that recovery can come easy.
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