How to Rise Above Your Circumstances

1. It’s Not As Bad As You Think. The reality is, most of our situations are magnified by our mind. We normally imagine the worst outcomes so sit back, relax, and see the situation for what is really is, not what you imagine it to be. What are the facts and only the facts?

2. Ask Empowering Questions About the Situation. To help you see #1 in it’s true light, ask powerful questions that will help you not only see the situation in it’s true light, but may also provide you with answers and solutions. Ask the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of this present predicament.

3. What’s the Worst That Can Happen? After you probe the questions in #2, finally look at all the details and consider, in light of all this, what’s really the worst that can happen. I find this disarms many situations I face and neutralizes the fear they may try to exert over me. Unless there is some major disease or threatening emergency, few things in life can really be that bad to take our life. Once you’re alive and breathing, my friend, you can rise above your circumstances. As the wise King Solomon so eloquently puts it, “As long as you are alive, there is hope, for living dog is better than a dead lion.” (Ecclesiastes 9:4)

4. Practice The Art of Contentment. Be grateful for what you have always. Many a times, we see our circumstances worse than they are simply because we’re comparing ourselves with others. Express gratitude for what you do have and maybe, just maybe, you will get more to be thankful for. Here is an example of how to stay thankful, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)

5. Surround Yourself with Positive Supportive People. When you’re down and out, it’s always a blessing to have friends and family you can count on. Someone who can be with you through thick and thin. We all need a helping hand from time-to-time so don’t be too proud to admit you need help. Two are always better than one so call, text, or email someone today whom you trust to encourage you through your situation (but not to pet you in your misery).

6. Help Someone Who is Currently in a Valley. One of the best ways to get out of a tough place is to help another person out of a tough place they’re in. Building on #5, be a friend yourself and practice the golden rule, it will do good for your heart and improve your own circumstances, almost immediately. The Apostle Paul clearly understood this point and sent his friends to uplift fellow believers, “I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts.” (Colossians 4:8)

7. Pray and Do Something. I’ve covered the subject of prayer many times on this blog. That’s because I KNOW prayer works! It is the key in the hand of faith that unlocks the bounties of heaven’s storehouse. Why then should you be reluctant to pray. It’s the fastest exit strategy I know of to rise above any and every difficult circumstance. You can read more about effective praying here. But, in addition to praying, you must also act. Prayer paves the way to go forward but your situation will not change much if you don’t take some action. I believe God speaks to us in prayer and He gives wisdom to handle our challenges. But we must do something with the divine insights He communicates to us during our prayer time. In other words, to rise above your situations, pray and work, work and pray.

There you have it. Now go out and enjoy your life to the fullest today. Implement these 7 keys to rise above your current circumstances. God bless.

1. Which of the 7 keys above best resonate with you?

2. Which one of these keys will you implement today?

3. Can you list at 3 more keys to rise above circumstances? Share them below.