When Life Knocks You Down
September 24, 2009
Please Note: This is a guest post by my dear friend, Diggy, from Upgrade Reality. Enjoy!!!
“Life will knock you to your knees and keep you there…if you let it.” – Rocky Balboa
Sometimes life can’t get better, you’re on top of the world, smiling from ear to ear, everything falls into place and it feels like we are invincible. It’s an awesome feeling to be high on life like that, those moments and times of peak happiness!
Other times can be less pleasant, sometimes even agonizing, and nothing seems to go right. We want to burst out in tears, come up with irrational ideas and sometimes completely abandon all hope and faith.
If it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month or even your year, and you’re feeling down, then let me share with you some ideas and thoughts, and hopefully give you some motivation to help you get on the right track again.
Although you cannot control many things in this world, and especially other people, one important factor of happiness is accepting that which you cannot change. What you can change however, is how you feel. Even if things are bad, you can still be happy, you can still choose to smile, and you can still choose to see it as a test that you have to get through in order for things to get better.
I have gone through a relatively tough time myself for about a year, mostly due to my own (bad) decisions, and I felt pretty depressed and didn’t enjoy life very much. I learnt many things from that period of time, and I realised that there are many things that you can do to get out of a situation, even if it takes a while.
There is one question you need to ask yourself and it is the following:
“Am I doing everything I can to get out of the situation that is causing me unhappiness and makes me sad?”
Most likely the answer is NO. I had the same problem, there were many things I could have done that would have stopped me being unhappy and bring forward positivity and happiness. Whether you have lost your job and are low on funds, or you lost your friends and your girlfriend/boyfriend, or you feel like the world is against you, there is always something you can do.
Scenario 1, no job, low on funds:
You can work 2 or even 3 minimum wage or part time jobs,cut out all non-essential things, don’t stop thinking about ways to make money, is there anything you are good at that you can provide or do for someone? Keep talking to people, make connections, trust that things will turn out well. Wake up early, be persistent, don’t give up. I know it’s tough…be tougher!
Scenario 2, you lost your friends and/or your girlfriend/boyfriend:
If your friends were truly your friends, then no matter what, there will be a way that you become friends again. If not, and it’s over, then it is one of those things that you cannot change and have to accept. Be thankful for the time you had with them, and start on your new journey. There are 6 billion people on this planet, I guarantee that you will make new friends, even if it does take time. The same with a girlfriend/boyfriend. I know this can be a big reason to be unhappy. If you can truly say that you have done everything in your power to try and make things work, and they still don’t, then it is another one of those things you cannot change and have to accept. You WILL find someone else.
Another great saying that I got from Eckhart Tolle is:
“This too shall pass.”
Time is continuous and never stops, so just as you get older, just as good things come and go, bad things will also come, but will also go. So you got slapped around a little, you made some mistakes, things didn’t go the way you wanted them to go. It sucks. Sometimes it really sucks.Don’t let it keep you down!
Today is a new day, one that is full of possibilities and opportunities. Did you think of things that you can do yet to change the situation that is making you unhappy? Well then, get started with it today, or at least make plans how and when to get started.
Personally, I have become content with believing that things happen for a reason and that they play out the way they are supposed to. It removes the frustrating question of “why is this happening to me?” that never really has an answer. I also believe in karma, or that what you give out is what you get back, especially when it comes to being good or bad and honest/dishonest. Some of you may not share my view, and it is not essential to your happiness. It is good to believe what you want to believe as long as it brings joy and happiness to your life and not the opposite.
Don’t give up! Keep your head down and your dukes up.
Remember, “This too shall pass”
Let’s have an awesome day and put a smile on that dial 
Diggy is author of Upgradereality.com and writes all about self improvement.
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Posted in Overcoming Challenges, choices, happiness
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Heya Lisis!!
Thanks so much for allowing me to make a guest post on Quest for Balance
Really appreciate it. Hope the readers enjoy it!
Cheers
Diggy – Upgradereality.com´s last blog ..Travel,Adventure,Lifestyle Design,Self Improvement and Passion
Those four words can be very comforting – “This too shall pass”…
And I agree too that things happen for a reason, sometimes of which we don’t know when it’s all taking place. If can can stay the course, the course guided by our heart, I believe we will find life has a way of working things out.
It’s good to be here and hear those words spoken again, and relish in the comfort of knowing that none of us are alone on our journey’s through life…
Lance´s last blog ..If It Matters, Choose to Show Up
Getting knocked down is a good thing – If you just get back up enough times you’ll eventually realize that there is actually nothing that can knock you down for good
Faramarz – Anxious Candy´s last blog ..Hyperventilation and Successful Breathing
Hey, Diggy! I’m so glad you shared this post with us today… partly because this week has been so crazy for me, I’ve hardly had any time for my regular blogging stuff. But mostly I’m thankful because I have a feeling I’ll be needing this advice a good bit in the near future.
Already I’ve had moments when I get so overwhelmed with how much still needs to be done before we leave on Wednesday, I essentially curl up in a ball on the floor and pout (mostly on the inside). But still, I have to remind myself this moving stress is a temporary condition… get back up, keep going, we’re almost there. As you said, “This too shall pass.”
I’ve never heard it put quite like Faramarz did… that it’s a good thing to get knocked down from time to time, but I can see how that’s true. Once you’ve fallen and recovered a few times, it helps to take away the fear of falling.
Thanks, guys!
Great post. What I like about it is the reminder that how we react to our circumstances is a choice. We may not have absolute control over the world around us (despite what some people seem to think) but we can choose our approach to it and our response to it. Denying that we have a choice is simply taking a victim position – which is also a choice of course!
Ian | Quantum Learning´s last blog ..A world of deals and exchanges
Great post as always Diggy.
I’m beginning to realise recently persistence and positivity are a big deal in dealing with life. I know that may seem obvious but I’m not always patient about things changing when they are negative and realising i can’t always change everything but i can change my attitude towards it.
Thanks for another great reminder,
Jen
Jen´s last blog ..Inspiring People – Part 2
Its true its good to be knocked down….at times
Its also true that when we think “It can’t get any harder”, it can.
thats the beauty of it, it is never as bad as we think and we always survive, acquire more tools to carry us through and off we go again, armed and fearless.
great post
thanks
Brigid
brigid´s last blog ..The Journey of a Serial Vegetarian
Great guest post, Diggy! Love it!!
Positively Present´s last blog ..get happier (.com)!
Great stuff man. Just recently I’ve realized that I haven’t been putting my all into getting the results I wanted. I just seemed let life have it’s way with me – kind of like using me as an example of a normally focused student gone careless. But now, I can feel those times slipping away. I’m actually putting in more effort than I ever had into my quality of life, learning new things everyday (no matter how big or small).
Thanks for having Diggy guest post here, Lisis!
John´s last blog ..Why Quality is Far More Important than Quantity
Hi Lisis!
My mother raised me with “This Too Shall Pass!” so when I heard Eckart say it, it was as if mom did. Much as kids hate to admit their mom is ever right about anything, I know she was right. I am now the age my mom was when she died – those four words have gotten me through a lifetime of YUCKIES. I heard my daughter say them a few weeks ago and I teared up. Yes, honey, it will pass.
Every time I go through a break up or deal with losing someone really important in my life I think about the 6 billion other people in the world, and if I found one, what’s stopping me from finding another? The odds are just too ridiculously against that person being the only awesome person out there, ever.
This post is a great reminder that the best thing you can do to stick it back to life when it sticks it to you, is be proactive.
I don’t necessarily think that things happen for a reason, but not thinking that makes me feel in control of my life. I find that it gives me the power and motivation I need to make my life what I want it to be. (It gives me the power!)
Kristin´s last blog ..peek at your paradigm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by John Anyasor and Diggy. Diggy said: When life knocks you down – Quest for Balance -http://bit.ly/gx1hA [...]
Hi Diggy,
Like you, I do believe things happen for a reason. And there is always a solution and if there is no solution, then there is no need to worry about that either. Life has a way of working things out and sometimes what looks like a “bad” thing might actually be a blessing in disguise.
Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..The Diamond In You & How You Can Never Be Threatened
Hi, everyone! I’m sure Diggy will appear before too long to reply to some of these comments. I am intrigued by this question of whether or not things happen for a reason. I’ve always believed it to be true, even before I knew WHAT I believed. I guess I always assumed everyone else believed it too. That’ll teach me!
So, my question for anyone who doesn’t believe “things happen for a reason” is: what about the example of Nature? Everything in Nature seems to have a clear purpose and function in predictable cycles… is that coincidence? And if everything in Nature happens for a reason, then wouldn’t everything in OUR life also? If it doesn’t, and there is no Master/ Universal/ Orchestrated system, doesn’t life feel lonely and without purpose?
I am really not trying to be difficult or put anyone on the spot, I just would LOVE to understand this point of view better, since it is new to me.
Thanks!
“Nothing lasts forever, even cold November rain.” ~Guns N Roses.
That’s just my favorite way of reminding myself that “this too shall pass.” I have to phrase everything musically or else I can’t ever get it through my thick skull.
Great post. Life will always knock us on our butts, but its our choice to stay there which keeps us from reaching our dreams. Obstacles make you a greater person once you had passed them.
Hi Lisis and Diggy!
(Lisis, great guest post selection!)
These are some great nuggets of advice, Diggy, thank you.
My personal favorite:
I know it’s tough…be tougher!
Wow, that thought has ushered me through a ton of ’stuff’ I never thought I’d make it through. I would play a scene in my head, throwing down the towel, hunkering down, and thinking, “OK, life, you wanna mess with me? Is that right? Well you have no idea who you’re messing with! Bring it on!”
You know, that kinda thing… *wink*
BTW: I’m loving the Rocky Balboa pic. Rocky rocks!
Lori´s last blog ..Start A Blog 
Words of encouragement are often the best gift we can give each other.
Erin´s last blog ..Divine Order
Sometimes I try not to attach myself with what is happening at all…it is what it is, nothing more.
Sometimes I try to find the reason right now, rather than waiting for it to become apparent…yes, I also believe things happen for a reason and find comfort in it.
Sometimes I become wrapped up in it, negativity and all…and, surprisingly, can see myself as an outsider watching someone have an emotional outburst, wondering why I am in 2 parts, unable to “control” the one I’m watching.
Choosing is such a powerful concept. And one I remind myself of daily, as situations arise and I must choose how to feel, how to respond, how to cope, how to appreciate, etc. By gaining this awareness, I have freed myself of much torture by realizing my power; the power of my choice. I have used that power to break the habit of procrastination. I have used that power to appreciate each moment, just as it is, because the sum of it all is my life. I even use it to remind myself that life just is; I can choose to see it one way or another.
Suzanne´s last blog ..The Power of My Choice
Hi Diggy and Lisis.
What I have learned is to stop judging. I have no idea what the reason is why certain things happen and I probably will never know. It is a waste of time to even go there.
What is NOT a waste of time is to see what is so and then act, as Diggy says.
Wondering why I am without funds is not getting me anywhere, what is useful is seeing it, then dealing with it by doing whatever I can come up with.
I think we indulge too much in the why and not enough in getting on with it.
The universe sees the bigger picture and knows the why, it is actually very humbling to acknowledge that I have no business in knowing the why.
My business is to deal with life as it presents itself in the best possible way.
The doing is the thing that will give us incredible life experiences, as you know Lisis.
It is not indulging in thinking about the why, it is us doing our thing out there and enriching our lives with those adventures that counts.
As you can tell, I loved this post.
Love to you both, Wilma
wilma ham´s last blog ..When the heart guides the mind, the dance can begin.
I agree all happens for a reason and also what goes around comes around.
I have a bunch ( a very big bunch) of index cards with affirmations and quotes on them. I read them when my thinking is toxic.
One says: How much do I think thoughts that bring me joy?
How much do I think thoughts that bring me pain?
My feelings will tell me which is winning.
Another says:
I feel a peculiar sense of reverance and gratitude mixed strangely with excitement and peace as if something wonderful is about to happen.
1 I have memorized is:
I wonder what good things are going to happen to me today.
Thanks for uplifting us in another uplifting post.
Warm loving hugs from the angels above!
Hey Diggy,
That’s a nice post. Me, too, have a similar past.Expecting my business partner( who is my own sibling) to boast up operating capital and his susequent denial and transferal of all the liablities upon me left me in a position of true pennilessness.
And as a chain reaction, all my friends and even my so called beloved wife who took some lofty vows at the time of wedding deserted me in an unbearable life-situation.
Moreover to add insult into an injury, being a physically challenged and wheel-chair bound I am forced to live a life of a caged sub-human existence.
(……. Lisis,my good friend, knows all.)
So, in my case, LIFE NOT ONLY KNOCKED ME DOWN BUT KICKS ME TOO, EVERY MORNING I WAKE UP.
STILL, I have seen through my serieses of Deep Depression. And I try to be happy with whatever I have. May be some other day I will try to share the ways to overcome Deep Depression ( Of course, if Lisis permits ).
@Lisis, is your “long march” by car over? Then why not drop a few lines to me ??
SAJAL NANDY´s last blog ..POSITION UPDATES:
Life can throw many curves in our life. The only thing we must master is how to approach it to our advantage.
Walter´s last blog ..Finding myself beyond my identity
Hey everybody!
Wow, thanks for the wonderful comments,I’m so glad you enjoyed the post!
Lisis, I wish your blog had the threaded comments plugin so I could respond to each comment easily
Sajal, wow, I can’t imagine being in your position, but your attitude is great! Keep it positive! I really hope and trust that things get better for you
Thanks again everyone!!
Diggy – Upgradereality.com´s last blog ..Travel,Adventure,Lifestyle Design,Self Improvement and Passion
Hey, Diggy… I know EXACTLY what you mean. I face this comment issue on every post. Between Subscribe To Comments and the Threaded Comments Plugins I am now thoroughly convinced I need to switch to Thesis (this theme has too many little issues). All I need now is a little time to focus on blog re-design. Maybe when I get settled in Vermont?
@ Sajal: Hi, my friend… it’s great to hear from you again. It sounds like you are still fighting back against all the different forces trying to keep you down right now. Whatever you do… don’t give up. As for my road trip, it did come to an end. Now, however, I’m packing up my home to move to Vermont next week. It’s a busy time; I’m really sorry I haven’t been on email or twitter or any of that stuff much lately. But I will soon, I promise.
@ Everyone: You guys are the best! Sometimes I feel like I have my own personal gurus here. Whatever issue I’m dealing with or sorting through, you all have such great answers for me (and everyone else). Soon, I hope to have more time, perhaps a theme redesign, and hopefully a more user-friendly comments situation. Thank you ALL for your patience!
@diggy how long have you been blogging?because you post are great!
jonathan figaro´s last blog ..Why You Need Affirmation To Succeed
Life is a compassionate teacher and has given me many opportunities to feel free and light. When I’m stuck in my mind I interpret the opportunities as difficulties.
Wonderful post!
Kaushik´s last blog ..Finding Passsion and Purpose: The Tipping point in the fulcrum of change
It is always interesting for me to write something on a topic and then discover that my friends have also tackled the same subject but in their own way. Insightful article.
Love the Rocky picture and quote! I’ve always been a fighter, so I appreciate this post a lot. I had to learn how to channel my fighting tendencies in a positive way as Diggy writes here, instead of just creating battles wherever I went. And as ‘this too shall pass’ has been a guiding light in learning to let the small stuff go and focus on what really matters.
Lisa (mommymystic)´s last blog ..Interview with Akemi Gaines: Akashic Records, Reincarnation, 2012 and More
@Jonothan
Thanks man, really appreciate it! I’ve had my blog for a year, but only been taking it serious for the last 2 months. Never knew I could enjoy writing so much 
@lisis hmm, I hear so many people are using thesis. Adam at ManvsDebt wrote a really cool post about blogging, he has close to 2k readers in just 6 months. I have no idea how to do that
Diggy – Upgradereality.com´s last blog ..Travel,Adventure,Lifestyle Design,Self Improvement and Passion
Hey, Diggy… I read that post, and it was FANTASTIC. I still can’t get over Adam getting over 2000 subscribers in 6 months! It seems an almost impossible feat, no matter how much you hustle! And he’s got a wife, and a baby, and a backpack-travel sort of life… I’m super impressed with his achievement.
But even more so, I’m super impressed with his blog! Man vs Debt is wonderfully written, entertaining, and relevant. I only wish I’d discovered it sooner.
It’s interesting to me that you’ve had your blog for a year but only recently started taking it seriously. Sometimes we get the feeling that if our blog doesn’t make it to the “big time” in the first 6 months (like MvD) it will never happen. But the fact is, it’s never too late. For blogging, or any other project, when you decide to hustle and truly do your best work, you will see results… just as you are now.
You’re doing an awesome job!
Hi Lisis,
I want to let you know that I’ve been searching for quite some time for an alternate theme that provides complete customization and doesn’t require much coding/CSS/PHP knowledge.
The theme is called Headway, which does everything Thesis does (and more). They are about the same cost. Email me if you want more info. I put a Headway tab at my website with screen shots if you want to peek into the back end.
I love using it thus far! It is awesome – just what I needed.
I’m sure either theme is good for what you need, but Headway seems to require much less coding knowledge, so that’s why I went with it.
Have a great day!
Lori´s last blog ..Start A Blog
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