Rebound

Coping with life's uncertainties through resilience.

Very few people in life have experienced a "dream run" to success. In fact, many can talk about setbacks and even tragedies that could have potentially put an end to their dreams. But the difference between successful people and those who seem to end up with no direction in life, is not necessarily a matter of what hand fate has dealt them, but rather how they have rebounded from misfortune and hardships. As the Chinese philosopher Confucius said "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall". 

The importance of helping others
Life provides many of us with huge opportunities. For others, life is not so easy. Reaching out to help others can provide them with the first step towards a new and more resilient life. 

The importance of seeking help  
As individuals, we can use our incredible mental powers to turn our lives around to rebound from difficult situations. There are times, however, when no amount of planning and positive thinking will make a difference. It is then that we need to take the courageous step of turning to others and seeking help. 

The importance of positive attitude  
The path we take will always be influenced by what happens to us. But what happens does not have to control our future. Any change or even loss, does not have to make us a victim. Taking control of our lives starts by having a positive attitude. Like a chain reaction, this leads to positive thoughts, positive actions and positive outcomes. The way we look at events can spur us on from disaster to triumph. 

The importance of staying in control  
Negotiating the obstacles that life throws in our way is always difficult, but coping with misfortune and loss while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is like driving a car with a blindfold on. We need a mind that can focus on steering our lives in the direction we ultimately want to go, not a mind that is blurred and confused, that can make us lose control and even lead to tragedy. 

The importance of a new beginning  
There are times when we may do or say things that impact on people around us so badly that we think there is no way that we can make up for what we've done. But making a new beginning is possible. It starts with a change of attitude, followed by actions that say, "Hey, I'm going in a new direction now". 

The importance of focusing on goals  
Most of us have dreams of what we would like our future to be. And as a start, this is good: dreaming is a form of planning. But too often our dream future remains just that: nothing more than a fantasy. To turn dreams into reality, we need to identify achievable goals, then work with determination on each step until our dream is realised. We also need to let our imagination have wings. Extraordinary outcomes will only come from extraordinary goals. 

It is a tough lesson in life that our character is often tried, tested and finally forged by the difficulties that we have to face. The great physicist Albert Einstein maintained, however, that "in the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity". It is this sort of attitude that helps us to look forward to better days, to keep on trying when there seems no hope at all, to stay focused on our dreams and finally, gives us the ability to rebound from life's difficulties.