Strong Habits help us navigate life’s challenges. Even with the best intentions, difficult moments happen—but the right habits can keep us resilient and strong.

You are blindsided by an injury, make a catastrophic mistake, or experience a devastating loss.

Your mind screams in shock, “Wait. What?”

“No, no, no, this can not be happening,” they said.

You become aware that this is indeed occurring after the initial shock, and the spike in stress hormones has passed.

You can not help but wonder, “How could this have happened? It is unfair. I can not stand it. Why me? Why now? How am I going to survive this?

Your head is spinning. You are depressed and anxious.

Well, I just experienced something similar.

My husband and I were relieved to get home at 1:00 AM on a Wednesday after being away for eight days and making the exhausting fifteen-hour journey back.

However, I realized there was a serious problem as soon as I opened the front door. Tiffany, my cherished cat, had come to welcome me, but she was not purring in her typical reassuring manner.

I had never heard her yowling in anguish like this before.

“Wait. What? Why is something wrong?

Then, for some reason, I knew. As I dashed farther inside the house, I came across proof that validated one of my most terrifying nightmares.

Tiffany had not been in to be looked after by my reliable, long-time pet sitter.

For eight days, my sixteen-year-old cat had been left alone at home without food, drink, or heart medicine. How could she have survived at all?

It has devastated me as a passionate animal lover to see Tiffany’s trauma and following physical and mental deterioration.

This has caused a lot of negative, irate, and hopeless ideas to compete for my attention. And the event undoubtedly made me feel weaker.

However, as soon as I was able, I deliberately went back to the routines I had developed over the years that help me be resilient no matter what happens in my life.

1. Use your power of choice.

Regardless of your situation, you have the ability to decide how to spend your energy and where to go. You have the option of directing your energy either in constructive, constructive ways or in destructive, negative ways. In any case, your future is determined by the decisions you make today.

I had to make some decisions as soon as I entered my front door and saw Tiffany in pain. I might remain distraught, depressed, and devastated. Alternatively, I might decide to accept the fact that my cat was still alive and give myself the strength to provide her with the affectionate care she so richly deserves.

Make it a habit by consistently choosing to direct your energy in constructive ways. When it does, you will feel more in control and have less problems in life. Instead of seeing life as something that simply occurs to you, you will feel as though you are living on purpose and controlling your own path.

2. Accept what is, no matter what.

Practice letting things happen without thinking assigning them a good or bad name.

You can achieve inner non-resistance by accepting things as they are rather than passing judgment on them. You may still wish to make changes, but you are more composed and whatever steps you take to make things better work better.

At first, I gave my Tiffany’s situation a poor rating. However, I was able to rapidly accept the circumstance rather than fight against it, which allowed me to use all of my intuitive and mental energies to determine what she most needed so that I could assist her immediately.

Instead than fighting against things, let them be as they are. Once you make this a habit, you will find that you can think through problems that were previously overpowering in a calm manner.

3. Be grateful.

Finding things for which you are thankful not only improves your daily life but also gives you a broader perspective that makes you feel less overwhelmed by challenging situations, which can help you deal during difficult times.

Such a trauma may have easily resulted in the death of a sixteen-year-old, eight-pound cat with a cardiac problem. That evening, I had three reasons to be thankful.

Tiffany was still alive, to start. Second, I arrived home in time to save her life. Third, I was appreciative that my pet sitter had advised me to bring extra water with me when I traveled. Tiffany’s life was likely saved by this.

Practice paying attention to what is working well. Every day, take note of things for which you are thankful. Finding something to be thankful for will soon become your default reaction to everything that occurs. Eventually, you will discover that cultivating an attitude of thankfulness makes your life happier.

4. Neutralize the negative

Our inner critic, who has the ability to say harsh things, can sometimes guide our thoughts. However, if you pay attention, you may identify negative thoughts and replace them with more constructive ones.

That night, my inner cruel girl came out. Tiffany depends on you to protect her. How could you have allowed this to occur?

I quickly interrupt this by substituting the useless thoughts with the words I frequently utter aloud to my adorable cat: “I adore you, Miss Tiffany.”

Always challenge your negative thoughts, and work on replacing them with constructive, upbeat ones. You will discover that negative ideas no longer have the ability to aggravate you once you make this a habit. Your mind will get calmer and you will be able to let things go more readily over time.

5. Return to the present moment.

For humans, daydreaming about the past or the future is one of our favorite mental pastimes.

You can clear the clutter from your thoughts and regain your sense of simplicity by remembering to focus on the “now.”

I tried not to think about how this might have happened or what Tiffany’s health would be like going forward during that long night. I simply kept saying, “I love you, Miss Tiffany,” to remind myself of the here and now.

Instead of losing yourself in your thoughts, focus entirely on whatever is happening right now while you go about your everyday tasks. You will have a stronger connection to your inner wisdom if you make this a habit. You will discover that life starts to go more smoothly and that decisions are simpler.

6. Trust yourself.

Even if you make mistakes along the way, it is preferable to rely on your own instincts and sentiments than to seek advice from others.

I took my time weighing my options, despite the fact that this felt like an urgent situation.

I could load Tiffany into the pet carrier and drive to the emergency veterinary hospital, which would take 45 minutes. Or I could take care of her in private for a few more hours until the veterinarian’s office in my neighborhood opened.

She had already experienced a great deal, and it was the middle of the night. We decided to keep her at home because I had a gut feeling it would be less stressful.

Never forget to ask for assistance from your inner wisdom. You will feel happier and less anxious if you develop this practice. Your self-confidence and sense of inner security will be independent of other people’s approbation.

7. Forgive.

Accepting the truth of what transpired without feeling emotionally impacted is a sign of true forgiveness. You acknowledge the progress and healing you have experienced as a result of overcoming the distressing event, and you hope the other person experiences the same.

Due to her scheduling error, my pet sitter was inconsolable and pleaded with me for forgiveness. I was certain that she would never purposefully hurt any living creature. I was also aware of how heartbroken I would feel if I were the one who had erred.

So I did. I pardoned her.

Release the toxic hatred that is causing you heartache and practice forgiving others. We all make mistakes from time to time, so forgive yourself too. You may go on with your life and achieve greater levels of inner peace by developing the habit of forgiving others.

You: Calm, Clear, and Confident

When things go wrong, life is difficult.

It is not enjoyable to feel surprised, nervous, and depressed.

However, putting these habits into practice when things are going well will improve your life and keep you resilient when things are tough.

Imagine being able to quickly get over the shock and anxiety of a crisis or disappointment rather than becoming trapped there.

Imagine going through challenging times feeling clear-headed, confident, and peaceful rather than overwhelmed and perplexed.

Imagine even finding inner peace while you take steps to put things right.

All of these ideas require time to perfect, and some are more easily formed into habits than others.

However, you will get stronger, wiser, and more resilient no matter what life throws at you if you choose even one and begin practicing.

You can do it if I can.