17 Ways to Get ‘Er Rollin’ When the Wheels Come Flyin’ Off

The wheels are gonna’ come off the wagon. Count on it. And one doesn’t have to be in the throes of major depressive disorder, panic attack symptoms, chronic stress, PTSD, or another emotional/mental woe. So the only thing worth discussing is what we’re gonna’ do when it happens…

So how many times have the wheels come off your wagon? Hasn’t happened yet? Come on, do you really believe you’re exempt? I mean, Lord knows I’ve had to grease the axles a time or twenty. It’s called life, and anticipation and preparation go a looong way toward easing pain.

17 Ways to Get ‘Er Rollin’

Again, I’ve had my run-ins with misery over the many years – anxiety, mood, and alcohol probs aside. So between my knocks, and those of my clients, I’ve amassed quite a list of effective go-to’s when the wheels come flyin’ off.

I’d like to share 17 of ’em…

1. Understand this is not the end of the world – life will go on (unless we say otherwise)
2. Don’t speculate on tomorrow(s) based upon how we feel in the moment (prob isn’t gonna’ look so hot)
3. Realize our feelings and behavior may be based upon cognitive distortions (things are likely not as bad as we think)
4. Allow the circumstances and response to evolve (forcing things will only gum-us-up)
5. Reach-out to our spiritual-head with prayer and/or meditation (and listen with an open heart and mind)
6. Hold on to who we are, not what or how (what better time to learn the distinction)
7. Embrace the circumstances as the best possible learning and growth opportunity (and endeavor to do just that, being joyful upon the completion of stages)
8. What a great time to truly grasp the suffering of others (and reach-out to them)
9. Accept our suffering, and be worthy of it (doesn’t matter what we expect from life, rather the other way around)
10. If we have a life-purpose, consider our circumstances within its context (if no purpose exists, chop-chop)
11. Don’t isolate and revel in being alone (we need others more than we know, and they us)
12. Don’t abandon forward motion (if our knee-jerk is “no,” we need to forge ahead with “yes”)
13. It’s okay to take hits (that happens to humans)
14. Never give-up on hope (it doesn’t quit on us)
15. This may well be our life-defining moment (seize it)
16. Turn to a prepared “Crisis Plan” (if we don’t have one, we need to get to work)
17. This is not the end of the world – life will go on (did I already say that?)

Boom! Right?

Hey, let’s not kid ourselves, folks, sooner or later the wheels are gonna’ come off the wagon. Happens plenty when we hit rocky roads. And no one said anything about having to be in the midst of major depressive disorder, PTSD, panic attack symptoms, or any other emotional/mental dilemma.

Are you without wheels now? Willing to accept you will be? Well, print this piece and keep it in your back pocket for that rocky-road day.

By the way, would you share a fix or two in the comment section? After all, we learn from each other. Thanks!

Well, the wheels aren’t going to come off on 600+ Chipur titles, so ride on ’em. Oh, and I’d like to share some of the kind things folks have had to say about Chipur – and my mentoring/coaching services. Take a look?