Coping

This is a good discussion. I think the first thing we need to try to do is to avoid the frazzle. This can be done in so many ways, but something I use is deep breathing. If I feel myself starting to get worked up over something I begin to deep breathe as I use for meditation. It brings in oxygen which helps to naturally de-stress you as it regulates the body. I also find uplifting literature to read, which keeps me focused on the positives of life. I tend to try to live in the moment. Something else I do is always treat myself each payday. It doesn't have to be something large, simple flowers works. It is in this that I can relax, enjoy, and know that I'm not working for nothing. I'm not sure how in depth you'd like to go about ways to strategize making ends meet, but something I do is prioritize my bills each month. I pay what needs to be paid and if something has to be put on hold I take the thing I won't miss the most. Most places will work with you, it's just a matter of speaking with them.

I try to remember all that's good and the ways that I'm fortunate. I remind myself that I don't ever aim low: in addition to working toward sustaining myself and my family in the long term, I'm also working toward the ability to help others...that setbacks are only to be expected and overcome, not to be ever ends to my efforts. That giving up is not an option and that feeling negatively doesn't help anything, that it's wiser to simply keep moving forward. It takes alot of determination to keep positive (or at least not-negative) nowadays, but I can usually succeed then so can you dearie. When all else fails, I look for the good news that others are experiencing to cheer me up...I take myself away from the situation and meditate, pray, dream, write...and then when I feel better, return.

its called being contented with what you have. i also believe faith (in GOD) and hope (for a brighter tomorrow) helps. we dont have a huge amount of money. i work part time and so does my hubby (he is starting his own biz). another thing is to learn how to shop victoriously!

I used to be told I was a very negative and pessimistic person (though I didn't think so) - but I figured the whole family couldn't be wrong, so I made a conscious effort a couple of years ago to look on the bright side of things and appreciate everything and every day - after all, we're not here for a long time, and we don't know just how long we might have. Fortunately, we don't have worries about making ends meet - but there are always things to worry about in everyone's lives, whether it's niggling health problems as we get older, or something to do with one of the children. Most of the time worrying about things doesn't make any difference to the outcome of it - except maybe to make us ill and/or bitter - so it's best to face it head on and try to take action if possible - or if there's nothing that can be done, sit back and accept the inevitable. Finding a little time for ourselves in the middle of the turmoil is nice. Simple things like being immersed in a lovely book in a quiet place for a while can have a calming effect and allow us to wind down and breathe again. Sounds trite, I know.

Hey cobrateacher! I wish I knew the answer to that one! I really can't say! We work and stress and still there isn't enough to make ends meet and we wonder what is the purpose to break our necks if it really isn't getting us anywhere! I do know this feeling because I been doing this for so many years now with absolutely nothing to show for it but being aged and exhausted! It is hard not to feel resentful, but we have to try so that we do keep ourselves going because if we don't who will?

I know you are having a hard time. We are also as is everyone. I just keep looking for the lessons.

My Dear Thinker; Please wait till the times get tough before you regale us with "horribly hard times!" These times are slightly harder than we are used to but this is good. Too many people were having too much fun, and something had to happen. Happen it did, and now we are back on a level playing field. Please save your wailing until you begin eating 2 squares a day, down from 3.

I'm an eternal optimist so I can usually find the silver lining in every cloud...although I have to admit that it's getting harder and harder these days. Financially, I have always crunched the numbers. I know what I can do and what I need to change if change is indicated. After all, you can only work with what you have. Most of all, I look towards the future because the status quo can't remain the same forever. That's why my husband and I are opening a business in this economy (there is a need in our area for what we will be offering) and why I'm hoping to go back to college in the summer. I always have hope and I always have plans. Sometimes that's the only positive thing I can do.

actually i have a hard time many times to cope. i wanted to post a good response but that is what my experience actually. and though i now how to cope by reading books and etc. but actually doing them is the hardest part . i can't really say that i can do those tips that i have read so many times in different times. it is like that we have to believe that we can do it. and trust that something good will happen in the future so that we will not depressed. but it is not easy to erase those gloom and negative thoughts in our mind. cause most of the time that we time to believe those negative thoughts. and many times that we want to believe those positive things we have heard or read from books , movies, and like we wish sometimes that we live or experience some kind of magic that something will come out of the blue that will drive away those negative situations in our lives. but still we find our selves in the same situation where it seems there is no way of escape and we find that all we can do is to let the time pass and wait till it is all over by itself. but i believe what others have said that we should stay positive and all those good advices. but it takes more than that sometimes. it takes encouragement many times and we need someone to keep reminding about it or else we will just get back to old negative thoughts. and having someone always around to remind us of those positive things that we can still look forward to in life then i think that it will be the best way to cope up with this negative things in our thoughts and deal with the negative situation in life.