Everyone experiences a few setbacks throughout their lives. At first, it can seem like a particular setback is going to break us. However, we have the power to turn it around. We can use it to build us up and make us stronger. It does take time to find motivation after a setback. DREAM’S youth mentoring programs exist to help youth, especially those experiencing setbacks. Encouraging youth to do these five things will help them find motivation again!
Practice self care
Self care can help you remember how great you are. It can remind you of the things you like about yourself and guide you to refocus your interests and talents. When you experience a setback, it’s important to continue to take care of yourself. Try to get a good amount of sleep, eat healthy meals, move your body and do some activities you like. This can aid in boosting adrenaline and get your natural endorphins flowing, making you feel happier.
Take time to process
It’s okay to be sad, and not taking the time to be upset and process the setback can actually negatively affect you in the long run. Take time to think about and understand why the way you approached this goal didn’t work. You will be able to learn from this and discover ways to try again. You can always learn from mistakes, turning them into positive momentum rather than a negative experience.
Incorporate more positivity into your life
If you want to be happier, incorporating more positivity into your life is a surefire way to accomplish this. Something as simple as smiling more and laughing often can bring more positivity into your life. If you’re feeling down after a setback, try spending more time with your family and friends, enjoying some time spent outside, helping others or meditating. It’s important to focus on what’s still good in your life and to let go of what you can’t control.
Focus on the future
It’s important to spend more time thinking about the future, rather than focusing on how things were in the past. Think about what you can change moving forward, and then see how that better approach can make a difference. The setback likely happened for a reason, and now you have information you didn’t have before that, which will benefit you when you are trying again.
Surround yourself with genuine people
The five people you spend the most time with have a significant impact on who you are and how you view your life and the world. It’s necessary to surround yourself with good people who want the best for you and who you can clearly see want the best in their own lives too. You want good friends and role models who are going to support you, but also tell you how it is. Our relationships influence us in many ways, and the attitudes of the people we hang out with rub off on us. If you have genuine friendships and relationships, their positivity is going to impact you in the best way.
Participate in DREAM’s youth mentoring programs
Mentoring is a powerful tool that we’ve seen make significant differences in the lives of our youth. Mentors can help lift children up when they need it most, and give them the tools and confidence they need to try again after a setback. If you’re interested in becoming a mentor with DREAM, reach out to us today to learn more about our youth mentoring programs!
