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Life is a journey offering a variety of opportunities and challenges. We are required to make decisions on a regular basis and to deal with issues along the way. Sometimes we forget how fragile life really is, until we journey down that fork in the road that changes us forever.

We all suffer major life setbacks from time to time. Our situations can involve a crisis in health, faith, finance, family, career or relationships. These experiences, though difficult to endure, can be invaluable in our overall growth and development. It is amazing how much we can learn from the most difficult moments presented by life.

It is important to take steps to recover as quickly as we can after the initial shock of a setback. We should allow some time to grieve our hardship and feel the necessary emotions but we need to resolve the situation to move forward. If not, we can suffer severe depression and significant loss. A great deal of damage is created by refusal to act.

There are key elements to overcoming setbacks. In order to conquer the issues and improve life, we should follow these steps.

1. Be honest about the situation. It is important to understand the dynamics of the experience. In this stage, you have to take responsibility for your actions and identify any contributions made by others. It is also appropriate to understand that some situations are out of our control. While we may want to find someone to blame, it isn't going to help. Setbacks can leave us looking for a scapegoat but this will only waste your time.

2. Acknowledge what you think and feel. This will help you begin to manage the situation from the inside out. If there are important decisions to be made, you will need a solid understanding to make the right choice.

3. Know your strengths. In order to ensure a positive outcome, we need to understand our capabilities to know what we can handle. If the situation requires something we can't manage, we need to honor our limitations and ask for help. Society generally understands and assistance is available for those who ask.

4. Find ways to manage stress. Setbacks will rock the boat and may crack the foundation of the life you've built. As you prepare to act on the decisions made, you will be better equipped if you let go of the initial stress. There are ways to easily accomplish this. You can talk to a therapist, get a massage, and go to a yoga class or exercise. Participate in any activity that brings you peace.

5. Take action. Once you have solid understanding of the circumstances and have direction, you are ready for change. This may be the stage where you really have to depend on another person for help. Some setbacks, such as the diagnosis of a serious medical condition, will require putting your trust in others. This doesn't mean releasing your power, but taking control of the situation and being vigilant. As we begin change, many rely on faith for support.

6. Conduct an inventory. When you reach a point that you surpass a major life setback, it is helpful to take an inventory of what you have learned from this experience. We can also take this opportunity to make future plans to prevent repeating this event.

If another decision is required, you can step back through these stages until resolution is achieved. You'll find one step leads to the next as you begin to deal with any major challenge. While major life setbacks can be overwhelming and create havoc, they can be a real catalyst for change. At some point, we can look behind us on our path and have pride in the way we've learned to overcome life's road blocks.

Learn more about this author, Diane Stacey.
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