Rock Bottom: Disaster or Opportunity?

Rock-bottom; it’s a cliche term we often use to describe that moment in our lives when everything falls apart. A person unfortunate enough to find themselves in this situation can easily be overwhelmed with feelings of helplessness and despair at what seems to be their own personal Armageddon. As someone who has been there myself, I understand to the fullest what it’s like and hope that this article will inspire all who read it. My purpose in writing this isn’t to talk about myself, but to provide a little practical advice I’ve learned through hard experience. This article definitely doesn’t have all the answers, but if you find yourself reading it, it’s as good a place as any to start looking for some of them.

Lets begin with a few different scenarios; maybe you lost your job, or your house, or even going through a divorce…Hell, maybe all three for that matter. Whatever the case may be, one thing should be clear to you by now: You’ve screwed up, and there’s no going back. From here there are two obvious choices for you to make; You can either move on, or stay where you’re at and continue being miserable. It really is that cut and dry, and as messed up as that is, that’s the reality. Hitting rock-bottom is a horrible experience, but on the other hand, it can give you the perspective you need to start a new life. This is because it rips the “rose colored” from your eyes and allows you to see yourself, and those around you in an objective way. Besides, you’ve already sunk to your lowest point (hopefully), so there’s literally nowhere to go from here but up! You just have to recognize the oppurtunity, and get your butt moving. At this point, the question might arise, “How does someone begin to move on, when they have no clue where to start in the first place?” The truth is, that although the first step is the most obvious, it’s also the most overlooked, and hardest one to take. This is because it means we have to let go of the past,which as humon beings, is something we’re not willing to do alot of times. The past, no matter how much pain is there for us, is familiar, so we like to cling to it. But this is exactly what you have to do if you are ever to make meaningful, and lasting change in your life. Letting go is the most critical step of all because it provides the mental space, and clarity, needed to learn from your mistakes. This is very different from brooding however, so don’t get it confused. Remember, this is a time to learn, not to agonize over the “shoulda-woulda’s”!! Begin looking for your mistakes simply as instructions for what not to do the next time, and heck, once you’ve figured that out the job’s almost half way done! Now all you have to figure out is where to move from there.