In life, as in all things, everything rarely goes exactly as planned. Everyone always has the best of intentions, and the ambitions to match, but unexpected occurrences can knock you back and disrupt all your carefully laid plans. However, it’s important not to let these events take over your life. There is always a way through, and sometimes unexpected setbacks can even open new doors you hadn’t considered before. Below are three common events that can blindside people, and ways you can move past them and get your life and your goals back on track.
The Break-Up
It happens to everyone, and it can have serious consequences for your mental health, which then has a knock-on effect on your career and the rest of your life. Often, people can feel embarrassed and ashamed that a personal situation is affecting their work life; but this is only human. Psychological trauma comes in many forms, and the breaking up of a long-term or intense relationship is one of those. In this situation, it’s important to allow yourself the time and space to deal with your feelings. If you’re struggling at work, be honest and tell your co-workers – more often than not, they will understand and know what you’re going through. As long as you are not using it to make excuses, being open and honest is a healthy way to move forward.
The Accident
Accidents can happen at any time, unexpectedly blindsiding you and disrupting everything else in your life. Car accidents are one of the most common forms of this; nationwide, roughly three million people a year are injured in car accidents. If you are in a car accident, which can be hugely traumatic, don’t forget to take care of your mental health as well as your physical recovery. Therapy sessions can be an invaluable way to deal with any lasting effects, helping you bounce back and get on track with your life again.
If you find yourself on the other end of a minor car accident – that is, you have unwittingly caused one or injured another person – it is important to deal with the situation responsibly and without burying your head in the sand, as this can build to further problems down the road. At the scene, you are obliged to give reasonable assistance to the person injured, and of course being prepared with insurance will help enormously. Therapy may also help you to deal with feelings of guilt, and keep any legal proceedings from taking over your life entirely.
Losing a Job
You can lose a job for a number of reasons; other aspects of your life affecting your performance, company cuts, or even your employer shutting up shop entirely. Losing your job can feel like the end of the world, but it’s important to gain some perspective. If you are due severance pay, make full use of this not just for some well-earned time off, but to consider other options and get yourself excited about applying for new opportunities. Whatever your ambitions, it is easy to become stuck in a rut with a job, so this could prove just the catalyst you need to start a new chapter in your life. Finding the positives in any situation like this is a brilliant way to start, and to make sure you are progressing towards your goals, even if everything isn’t going entirely to plan.
