10 Affirmations To Stay Positive When Life Is Not Going According To Plan

Life is amazing, but sometimes it's hard to acknowledge because of all the sticky situations and straight-up terrible nonsense that happens in our lives.

Let me guess: Right when you FINALLY think something is going great, something bad happens again. When does it end, right? Why you? Why can’t you just be NORMAL like “everybody else”? How come it seems like some people have no problems at all, and you’re stuck under a constant avalanche?

The truth? I am not going to tell you things will get better over night. I am not going to tell you that terrible circumstances you obviously don’t deserve are not going to come your way. Bad things will happen; I can practically guarantee it. Trust me, I know firsthand.

What I will tell you, however, is that there are ways to live above these unforeseen circumstances. You can make it through the unexpected situations; you can come out stronger than ever and better equipped for the storms that will inevitably come your way in the future.

Here are 10 ways to live above the most unfortunate circumstances:

1. Trust

Trust things are going to work out. Have you ever looked at a tree that is absolutely beautiful in the spring, but looks pretty ugly during the winter? That’s because the tree is not in season.

You have to remember that, just because you’re not seeing fruit during the winter of your life, spring will come eventually. Trust that it will all come together in the end, even if you can’t see it now. Your life isn’t dead; it just might be dormant for the time being.

2. Change your plans

If you have been trying to make the same thing work out, and time and time and time again, it fails, perhaps you need to try something new. I'm not saying give up on your long-term dreams; however, sometimes things don’t work out because they’re not supposed to.

Quit trying to fix the air conditioner with some bubble gum and sticky tack. Change your strategy. Stop trying to force the situation with the wrong tactics. There is a reason it isn’t working out.

3. Meditate

I know seems hyper-spiritual, but no matter what you believe, you can still take time mold your habit of personal reflection. Maybe to you this means meditating, or even praying. Perhaps it's simply taking time to relax with your thoughts.

Get in touch with your spiritual self. Talk to the ocean when you surf.  Talk to the mountain when you ski. An inner peace tends to come with spirituality and meditation.

4. Be patient

What we are waiting for is not as important as what happens to us while we are waiting because sometimes who we become and what we learn in the process of waiting is what truly shows us the way.

Think about it: We are all waiting for something -- a new job, a significant other, a phone call, another chance. Perhaps, if you’re still waiting on whatever it is, maybe you’re just not ready yet.

Waiting is not punishment; it’s preparation.

5. Be positive, even when you’re not positive

At work, a part of my job is to greet people and ask them how they are. When they ask me how I am in return, of course I am going to respond positively, even when I am having a bad day. And you know what? I make myself believe it.

It's funny because this same idea works in reverse. If you keep telling yourself, or telling others, that you’re just feeling mediocre, or you're having a particularly bad day, well, that’s exactly the kind of day you are going to have. There is true power in thoughts and words!

What you proclaim, you are. Whether you succeed or fail is determined in your mind way before a situation even plays out in real time -- consider that for a moment. Change your thoughts, and your life will follow.

6. Stop focusing on your stressors instead of your blessings

Many times during your day, things go exactly the way you want them to. Yet, when something doesn’t go according to plan, you get upset.

It’s so easy to get preoccupied with the problems in our lives. In reality, however, the things that go right significantly outnumber the things that go wrong. It’s so hard to see it that way sometimes because our problems become this unbearable weight that we feel like we aren’t equipped to carry.

I get it: It's easier said than done to look at the positives over the negatives. It truly does take time. However, you are already equipped. You might just need some strength training!

Practice makes perfect. Your circumstances cannot control you as long as you choose constant inner happiness, regardless of what's happening on the outside.

7. Live in the now

No matter how much you think about it, dream about it, or sweat over it, the past is over, honey. When you face the facts, it can no longer hurt you.

Think of the events that happened in your life as if they happened FOR you, not TO you. You have outgrown your past. You are so much bigger and stronger now. It’s time to let it go.

8. Just go with it

Maybe the reason the situation you had perfectly planned out went left instead of right is that the universe had other plans.

Maybe it rains on that day you were planning on having a sunny picnic in the park. So what? Have the picnic anyway, and dance in the rain. Maybe it’s not how you planned it out, but that’s the best part about it.

Just go with the flow and your memories will truly be unforgettable. Consider the rain a blessing. Some problems are just out of our control, and there’s not much else we can do except adapt and figure out how to move on!

Obviously, I realize that your problems are on a much larger scale than a picnic. However, if you start to see the small circumstances this way, you can most certainly begin to see the larger issues this way. Perhaps once you do change your mindset, you will realize that, in reality, you don’t actually have many stressors.

9. Have faith

There will definitely be moments when you won’t know what’s coming next, like those terrifying blind spots in your car, or rainy nights when you can’t see the road.

However, if you keep moving ahead (even if it’s at 5 mph), things will begin to clear up. Keep the faith, and know you will reach where you want to be. The destination remains, and a little rain or crummy vision cannot change that!

10. Turn your mess into your message

I know it’s hard to see it this way right now, but the pain you are going through is temporary. When you get out of this tunnel (or even while you are in it), your story will inspire other people who are going through hard times themselves.

Let your life be your anecdote. If you need solid proof of that, well, you’re reading it. This article is MY testimony.

Maybe I don’t understand why you have to go through the things you do. Perhaps I have not walked in your shoes. But what I do know is that IT WILL PASS.

You can’t just hope it blows over, however. You have to put in the conscious effort and strength to press on and fight for what you deserve. Will it be hard at times? Yes. Will you get frustrated? Absolutely.

Every little part of the journey is beautiful, no matter how precious or even how unfortunate. You can live above and beyond any circumstance because you are strong; you have willpower, and you are dang well worth it!

Get out there and show your life who is really in charge.

Photo via We Heart It