We all have bad days. Days that we question what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and who we’re doing it for. Sometimes, moments like these can determine our fate. So how do we best deal with these situations?

Embrace the challenge.

There is always an element of suffering or expense in achieving any goal, whether time, resources or effort. To think that we will achieve anything significant without cost is naive.

If we accept from the outset that we will be challenged and met with resistance, it won’t necessarily make us feel any better, but it will give us confidence that we’re on the right path – the path to achievement. Happiness occurs when we achieve our goals despite the obstacles faced, i.e., without a challenge, it’s too easy, and if it’s too easy, it won’t be fun.

Keep moving forward.

Once you’ve embraced the challenge, you must maintain momentum. Keep showing up, with your head up, and deliver the best you can on any given day – progress over perfection.

Some days you will ‘shoot the lights out’ with a spectacular performance, whereas other days, you will only manage to put one foot in front of another. Both produce forward momentum and get you closer to the finish line, so don’t be discouraged. Just don’t stop because when you do, it’s over.

Recall your purpose.

When you start a new project, begin a new job, or establish a new venture, you do so for a reason. It’s the ‘why’ that got you started in the first place. When times get tough, you must remember why you started in the first place. Was it to improve your department’s efficiency? To enhance your career prospects? Or to make a profit?

When we rediscover our purpose, we realign ourselves to the cause, and motivation prevails.

Be honest with yourself.

Extreme difficulties are a test to see how bad you want it. Everything is easy at the start. So when do you choose to sell out?

Often we create ‘valid’ reasons as to why we should give up. Lack of money, worsening health or relationships, or a change in priorities can all persuade us to stop. Even if stopping is the right thing to do, you should still admit that you are giving up, i.e., you did not complete the mission you set out to do.

Don’t be too sensitive about it because it’s essential to recognise and take full responsibility for your decisions. Own it – because when you do, you may realise that the obstacle isn’t insurmountable, and you probably can overcome it. And if you can’t, that’s okay too because if we can accept our failures rather than justify them, we learn more from experience and increase our chances of success next time.

Commit to your vision.

When you began, you had a vision in mind. You could see what success looked like and the benefits it would bring. Staying committed to this vision, despite hell or high water, is the only way it will ever come to fruition. Resilience is key.

And imbuing yourself and others with your vision throughout the journey is likely to keep you inspired and energised. When people can see what the future will look like, they’ve got a much better chance of achieving it.

Often, they’re looking at what you say and do and feed off your energy as a leader. Remember to share the wins and remind everyone of the long-game, i.e., the vision of where we are all going and how we will get there.

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So keep your vision alive, remember your purpose, move forward, and be honest with yourself. After all, achieving anything worthwhile was never meant to be easy. And if it were, it would be boring, and then we’d complain about that!

Just keep the faith.