What to Do When Your World is Crumbling

“When you think your life is falling apart, it’s usually falling together in disguise.” – Charlotte Eriksson

There are times you are going along in life and everything is hunky-dory. And then suddenly, bam, something happens and life as you knew it is no longer the same. And you are left picking up the pieces wondering what happened. You are left wondering what to do when your world is crumbling.

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What to Do When Your World is Crumbling

1. Breathe

The first thing you need to do is to breathe. Take a deep breath. Get your bearings. Don’t panic. No matter what is happening in your life remember to breathe. It is the first step in dealing with whatever is happening.

2. Be Grateful

When you are dealing with the crazy that life can throw your way, it can be hard to feel grateful. But gratitude is helpful when life is hard and crazy. It can shift your attitude from everything sucks to small miracles are happening even in this rough patch in my world. There is always something to be grateful for. Always.

It can be something simple and seemingly silly. For example, you could be grateful for being able to get out of bed. (Honestly, some mornings are like that.) Or that your puppy went the whole day without peeing on the carpet. These are real things to be grateful for. Gratitude doesn’t have to be some grand gesture, it can be the small things as well.

If it is hard for you to see the all things to be grateful for in your day, then start a gratitude journal. This exercise can get you accustomed to seeing things to be grateful for even on your worst days.

3. Look for Silver Linings

Your situation might seem hopeless in the moment. But see if you can find the silver lining. You might not be able to see it while in the middle of the dark situation and might have to wait until things get better. Then it should be clearer once you are past the worst of the challenge.

4. Take a Break

You might be exuding super human courage during your challenges, which is amazing. Go you. But remember, you are still human and need to take breaks.

Rest. Relax. Take care of yourself, so you have strength to deal with whatever is happening.

5. Just Keep Moving Forward

Sometimes in the face of difficulty all you can do is keep moving forward. Keep getting up and facing another day. Keep putting one foot in front of the other (literally and metaphorically).

6. Serve Someone

There are times that our problems feel so big that they are all we can see. Step outside of your problem for a while and find someone to serve. It can be big or small. Your problems won’t go away when you help someone else, but it will make you feel a little bit better.

7. It’s Okay to Cry

You don’t need to act tough and strong all of the time. Allow yourself to cry. It is healing and therapeutic. And I personally think it is a sign of strength, not of weakness.

8. Get Support

You don’t need to go through your struggles alone. Reach out to family or to a trusted friend for a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on.

If don’t have family or friends you can rely on, then see if there is a group that meets in your area or if there is an online formum specific to the problem you are facing. Having a solid support system can make a world of difference and make it easier to make it through the trial you are experiencing.

Final Thoughts

When things go awry in your life, it can be hard to know what to do. You can be left wondering what to do when your world is shattering around you. These tips can give you the courage and confidence to keep moving in spite of whatever is happening because you will know what to do even though your world is crumbling around you. Or it feels like it is.

When your world is crumbling, what do you do? Are there other things that help you, that I’ve missed?