3 tips to Adventure through challenging times

A big benefit to creating your own Adventure Attitude is resiliency – the ability to cope positively with challenging times.  We are in challenging times with the firehose of politics, the overwhelm of the pandemic and all the other news of the day.  The very set up of news and social media is psychologically meant to appeal to your inner addiction to drama (even if you didn’t think you had any addictions!)  The world events can be very stressful. At least for me, they are!  Here are three tips to guide you on adventure through trying times.

1. Self-care is not selfish

Stacey in a gold beauty mask
I loved this face mask because part of the directions stated: “Congratulations, you look ridiculous. Go with it!” That made me laugh and enjoy being silly.

Taking care of your own mental and physical health is even more key when times feel overwhelming.  I’m all about feeling your feelings, but there are moments when the sad ones can spiral.  My advice? Do what you can to bring laughter and joy into your day.  Laughter yoga has become a habit for me.  Your body doesn’t know the difference between fake and real laughter, yet the endorphin lift is the same!  And it’s a good workout for your core.  What action can you take to practice self-care that will bring a smile to your face?

2. Turn negatives into positives

This is where I share that not all adventures are fun.  Some are meant to be life lessons, if you choose to learn.  I first came across this lesson on an early adventure when I took myself out to a restaurant/bar with the intention of meeting someone new.  This didn’t happen – and the lesson I learned was that going to bars to meet people is not what I find fun! 

A “negative” example

For the last five years, I’ve been faced with opportunities to face my fears around narcissists.  At this point in time, the biggest one is most likely obvious – Mr. Trump.  (I don’t care what your political view of him may be, I personally don’t like him and have realized he pushes that trigger reaction in me that stems deeper than his time as leader of the USA).  There have been many times when I have grumbled, complained, and even gossiped about these narcissists.  The news feeds into this dysfunctional addiction of the drama that surrounds these personalities.  Do you have similar feelings?

Trump cartoon pointing everywhere creating chaos and challenging times
Firehose of blaming everyone else for every bad thing…

turned into a “positive”

How to cope?  This answer may not be a quick fix, but it may be a start of your self-awareness to creating your coping tools.  “Trump is your guru.”  WHAT??  This flip of turning a huge negative into a learning lesson (aka positive), helps me on a regular basis. 

Every time I get annoyed (frustrated, angry, stressed, anxious or whatever) because of something he did, I remember to look at my own reactions.  No one forces you to react or overreact – you can choose serenity or to be annoyed (etc.).  If you want to apply some other psychology, every time Mr. Trump blames others, deflects or refuses responsibility for his actions – you can be aware of how he manipulates “victimhood” to suck you in.  Have you thought of ways you could turn negatives into positives?

3. Courage

Additionally, this version of the Serenity Prayer often reminds me to not take others bad behaviors and let them shake me up.  (Side note: God is your higher power as you understand it, not a formal religious one being forced on you.)

            God, grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change.

            The Courage to change the one I can.

            And the wisdom to know that one is me.

You could also use courage to cut back on your drama intake/stop the doom scrolling.  Put down your phone.  Turn off the television news.  If you must know the news, set a timer or self-imposed time limit.  Pay attention to how your body reacts to what you take in.  If you’re feeling constricted, do some movement to feel expansive.  Let out your inner child and whoop it up. Hula hooping does it for me – energetic music plus childlike play equals wonderful joy!  How will you dig in to use your courage to uplift yourself?

The Cowardly Lion from Wizard of Oz exclaiming about how courage helps in challenging times
“How? Courage!” – The Cowardly Lion from Wizard of Oz

Still not feeling it?  Want a personal guide to create clarity on adding more adventure to your every day? Did you know I offer Adventure Mindset Mentoring? Send me an email through this site or find me on social media (@adventurewednesdays for FB & IG) and we will set up your free intro session!

Current Category

All Categories

Curiosity sparked is key for your adventure mindset.  Learn all sorts of new things in these posts – and use them to inspire your own adventures!

Into chocolate, and want to try this yummy familiar food in new ways? Check out these blog posts

Self Care is not selfish! When it comes to learning to play and have fun, taking care of you in different ways makes you, and life, more joyful

Be inspired by these guest bloggers who have created their adventure attitudes and transformations in their unique ways.

Sometimes to shift your outlook on life, you need to shift your perspective by traveling somewhere unfamiliar, or seeing familiar places in new ways.  It was while I was in another country that I realized – everywhere is someone’s backyard!  I’ve also become a big fan of traveling to one place that is wildly different each year – an event in the Nevada desert called “Burning Man”

Are you dreaming of tiny house adventures?  Start here.  I’ve worked at a tiny house builder, and am renovating a 1975 Airstream to be my home for my digital nomad life.

Your Adventure Mindset Mentor

Stacey Newman Weldon You need more fun & spontaneity in your life, and aren’t sure of next steps or the path to follow.  Let’s connect! You could choose a free 15 minute chat, various courses, or even select one-to-one coaching.

Learn more here:

Recent Posts

Piet Hein, Dutch Pirate’s Epic Plunder Of Silver And Chocolate

The allure of pirate tales often centers around hidden treasures, daring exploits, and legendary figures. Yet, the Dutch privateer Piet Hein remains a lesser-known name, overshadowed by the more...

Dog Tales, an Unleashed Collection of True Stories

Dog Tales, An Unleashed Collection of True Stories is a collection of 33 stories about dogs and their humans.  One of those stories is mine!  My essay is called "Dog Is My Co-Pilot" and is about a...

Pirate Blackbeard & His Chocolate Stories

Blackbeard’s Cacao Treasure Is your mental image of Blackbeard, the adventure-swashbuckler pirate from the early 1700s with a mythic-proportion level reputation for fierceness, based on Hollywood...

Adventure Wednesday’s Amazon Suggestions

Want to help support me as I endeavor to inspire you and others to go on adventures?  I have not put ads on my site (they can be so annoying! If I ever do, it will be done tastefully!).  I am an...

You may also like…

4 Comments

  1. Lisa Stimpson

    Great blog today 🙂

    Reply
  2. Anne-Marie

    I hear your voice when I read this and it makes me smile 🙂 such wisdom!

    Reply
    • Stacey Newman Weldon

      So happy to read I helped you smile! My mission is to be the tide that lifts all boats…

      Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *