How do you overcome tough times? I want to share what I’ve discovered after 27 years of experiencing farm life.
My family had a rough go this last week.
We had just finished the grain harvest and were preparing to cut our third crop of hay. We were feeling pretty good about the season’s work, and were looking forward to putting up a good-quality hay crop, when out of the blue a sudden, violent, 3-minute hail storm wiped out our third crop of hay!
Yes! You read that right. The whole crop of hay was lost!
Stems broken, leaves stripped. There wasn’t much left, and what remained was too shocked to grow anymore. All we can do now is cut it and get it off the field. (We are still in this experience, as I am writing.)
Just like that! In less than 3 minutes, our positive, hopeful outlook for the future turned upside down! Needless to say, it was tough to take. It was discouraging and disheartening.
I know you’ve been through similar experiences when it feels as if the rug has been pulled out from under you.
Do you have the tools and the confidence to pick yourself back up?
We have farmed for 27 years now and though experiences like this never get easy, we’ve been through enough of them to have learned a few things to get us through those tough times.
7 Truths to Help You Overcome Tough Times
- Allow yourself to feel the emotions. All of them. Take the time needed to process them. Just don’t dwell and stagnate in them permanently.
- Acknowledge the fear that comes and directly address it. Move into the realm of facts and what is real. It’s tempting to wallow in emotions, but that only slows the healing process.
- Look for the blessings. There is always something of equal or greater good to be thankful for in any tragedy or difficulty. It may take time to discover, but it is always there. (I’ll write more about this in another post).
- Be comforted that though painful, experience builds strength and can provide much needed wisdom. But this wisdom only develops as you consciously choose to grow in acceptance and understanding. Many qualities such as patience, character and appreciation can be gained through overcoming difficulties.
- Put things into perspective. Doing so helps you recognize all that you do have to be grateful for.
- Choose to be grateful. Happiness does not make us thankful; being thankful makes us happy. Regardless of your circumstance, you can experience happiness by choosing to be grateful.
- Recognize you can’t change what happened, but you can choose how to respond from this moment forth. Taking responsibility for your response means choosing not to be a victim and to decide to move forward with faith and confidence.
Don’t give up when times are hard. Looking back, you’ll be amazed at your incredible strength and ability to overcome! You’ve done it before and you’ll do it again!
Much love,
Dear Melanie,
Thanks for your blog. I always read your articles and they are enlightening, helpful, encouraging and usually make me smile too! Often, they hit home in a big way and this one was no exception–having experienced similar situations MANY times over 28 years of farming. Thanks for distilling all those lessons we learned through tough times in farming and family into those absolutely iron-clad principles you outlined.
Wow! I feel wise for having experienced all that!
Thank you so much Yvonne! You are definitely one of the wisest women I know!! ??
This is a wonderful blog post, Melanie. It’s both well-written and wise and also very helpful to people going through challenges great and small. Thank you! I hope all is okay with you and your family after the loss of the third crop!
Thank you so much Marilyn! I hope it is helpful. I think I’m the one that benefits the most by writing it down! We are doing well. To be honest, we have just learned that there will likely always be something that’s not great, and so we just take it in stride. ?Thank you for your kind words!