It seems like right now, with the world reeling from C0VID-19 and the tyrannical ways governments are managing it, there’s a lot of loss.

Loss of hope, loss of security, loss of the expectations we had for our lives.

At least that’s been my experience this last year since it all started in March 2020.

I’ve dealt with deep sorrow. Everything changed and much feels out of our control. What we once thought life would be is no more for a time. And the future feels uncertain. I’ve had to pivot and learn how to live in this world that is so different from what I want it to be.

Well, this week a simple experience helped me see how to cope when it feels like nothing’s going your way. I’ll share with you five things to in times like this.

Watch this short video to gain context to these ideas I’ll share, then keep reading for 5 ideas to help you when it’s all gone wrong.

Although the loss in the experience shown in the video is minor compared to the losses we’re feeling in the world right now, the principles also apply to our greater losses. They helped me though a rough time. I hope they can help you too.

Readjust expectations.

What were your hopes and dreams? Can they still be achieved although in a different way? What can you do instead that will still be valuable, joyful, and fulfilling? Come to terms with what you’ve lost, mourn for it, and then start creating other experiences that lead to fulfillment of your dreams. 

For example, with all the restrictions to travel and talk of vaccine passports, I’ve realized that flying probably isn’t in my future if vaccine passports become required worldwide. I don’t plan to get the COVID-19 shot, so I mourned the loss of that dream for a while.

Once I’d come to terms with that reality, I decided I could live without traveling on an airplane. I could give that up and still live a happy life. And I would create a new way to experience the joy that world-travel gave me.

We bought a trailer and are making plans to travel our state and country by road.

Give yourself time.

When I first injured my ankle (in the video above) my heart seared with disappointment. We had looked so forward to four days of hiking through canyons, climbing over boulders, and following trails to breathtaking vistas.

Now I feared none of it would happen. In that moment all felt lost.

I couldn’t easily or quickly see the bright side or feel optimistic. It took the 2 1/2 hour drive back to the campsite, and a full rainy-day tucked comfortably in our trailer for me to work through the disappointment. And this was a small disappointment.

When we think of the huge losses we’re experiencing with the COVID-mess, it’s OK to give yourself time to mourn and process the losses. Give yourself grace and time.

Pray.

There have been times this last year when my heart felt so heavy. I could find no relief. No one could help or change the circumstances the world was in. Nothing solved the huge problems our world faced. There seemed no where to escape the crushing reality of our situation as a world and people or my individual heartaches.

Except prayer.

God was the only safe place. The only One who I could rest in.

So I fell to my knees often for that place of solace. I asked for help. I asked for strength. I asked for vision and clarity. I asked for his Grace to help me get through the impossible situations I felt thrust into.  He helped me bear the galling, unchanging realities I found myself in.

It makes me think of one of my favorite scriptures in Isaiah:

“And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and  satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” (Isaiah 58:11).

Build community.

Being able to just say how hard things are for you, and to receive reassuring support is so important when it feels like everything is falling apart.

A simple example is after we’d been in the trailer a few hours and I was still sorting out my disappointment over injuring my ankle, Stanton took me in his arms and hugged me while I told him how hard the day had been for me.

He encouraged me. That helped a lot.

On a bigger, more serious scale, it’s important to find people who share the same grief, loss, and sorrow you do and create a supportive community.

As I could see freedom slipping through our fingers this year, I sought out and found other freedom-fighters. I found a large and growing group of people who saw the “scam-demic” for what it was, and, like me, were sounding the alarm and working hard with government and legislators to preserve natural rights. I joined email lists and chat groups where we could talk over the issues, share information, and be heard.  I attended peaceful freedom protests and rallies and felt so inspired and empowered to know I was not alone.

Rest and Recover.

That day in the trailer I felt so out of sorts with the disappointment that I needed a nap! And I felt much better after some rest.

I needed a reset and then I could see more clearly with hope and face it all better when I wasn’t so exhausted.

There are days in our lives, especially during this tumultuous time in the world, that we need to take a break from the chaos and grief. Find a way to turn it off. Literally, a nap is a great reset on a hard day. But you can also reset through diversion.

What are your favorite diversions? For me: a day adventuring outdoors, soaking in a hot salt bath, reading a good book, playing games and laughing with family and friends, and a deep-dive study in the scriptures all help me rest and recover.

Do you want to live life more abundantly?

You’re not alone. I’ve got great news for you, my Friend. Watch the video for a virtual hug and words of encouragement from me. You’ve got this!

The Abundant Toolkit is my gift to you when you sign up to receive inspirational notes from me in your inbox (don’t worry! I’ll only send great stuff and never send spam!). When you sign up you’ll have access to my private Gifts for You Collection here at my website where I keep the Abundance Toolkit and a whole lot of other awesome resources to help you live life more abundantly.

What’s in the Abundance Toolkit?

• •  13 page printable workbook.

  • 3 tools to help you identify and apply principles of abundance in your life right now.

  • Questions to help you determine where you’re out of balance with abundance.

  • Specific and personal actions you can take to live life more abundantly starting today.