Sometimes, life throws us curveballs we never saw coming.
One day, you’re feeling on top of the world—maybe your business is growing, you’re in a good place emotionally, and you think you’ve got everything under control.
Then, almost overnight, circumstances shift. A deal falls through, a personal relationship unravels, or health problems emerge.
It’s in these low moments that certain people seem to rebound with astonishing tenacity, rising above the chaos and finding solid ground again.
I’ve always been fascinated by these individuals. What exactly do they do differently?
Turns out, they have a set of unique habits that help them rebuild, renew, and come back stronger than ever.
Below, I’m sharing seven of these habits that continue to inspire me.
They might look simple on the surface, but they carry a lot of weight when you apply them to real-life struggles.
Let’s dive in.
1. They cultivate self-awareness
I once went through a stressful season with my work projects. Everything felt chaotic—looming deadlines, a growing to-do list, and a constant sense of being “behind.”
The turning point came when I decided to keep a detailed journal for a week.
Each day, I noted which tasks drained my energy the most, which thoughts triggered anxiety, and when I felt my confidence dip.
I started to see patterns: certain small triggers were contributing heavily to my stress, and I was reacting without pausing to really think.
That’s the power of self-awareness.
People who recover from life’s toughest setbacks often have a clear sense of what drives them and what trips them up.
They recognize their triggers and own up to their strengths and weaknesses.
This honesty helps them make better decisions, because they can spot the same old pitfalls before stumbling in.
2. They reframe negative thoughts
None of us are strangers to negative thinking, especially when life has us pinned to the mat.
But the individuals who always seem to bounce back have a habit of reframing.
Instead of saying, “I’m a failure, and things will never change,” they might catch themselves and think, “I’m having a tough time right now, but I’ve solved problems before, and I’ll figure this out.”
It’s not about denying reality. Instead, it’s a way of training the mind to see obstacles as surmountable.
According to Very Well Mind, reframing doesn’t just change how we feel—it can also prime us to take productive action by rewiring our automatic thought patterns.
3. They set micro-goals for progress
Resilient people rarely rely on massive, sweeping changes to fix their situation.
Instead, they break down their objectives into small, manageable steps—sometimes tiny enough to feel almost trivial.
Why?
Because small wins matter.
They build confidence, keep you engaged, and gradually reshape your reality until you look back and realize you’ve traveled a long way from where you started.
It’s a simple practice, but it’s incredible how powerful it can be.
4. They maintain supportive connections
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned repeatedly, it’s that going at life completely alone can be crushing—especially when things turn bleak.
That’s why many who come back stronger often have a network of supportive individuals they can count on.
This doesn’t necessarily mean a huge crowd of friends or colleagues. It might be just a couple of trusted confidants, a mentor with more experience, or a community group that offers encouragement.
A few years ago, one of my businesses hit a cash-flow crisis.
I was embarrassed to tell anyone, but I eventually confided in a fellow entrepreneur who’d walked a similar path.
She offered practical tips on cost-cutting, introduced me to an investor, and reassured me that stumbling is normal, even for seasoned founders.
Looking back, that conversation was a turning point. Having someone affirm that my challenges were solvable gave me a second wind.
So many times, the greatest leaps in progress come not from solitary effort but from leaning on the right people at crucial moments.
5. They embrace healthy coping mechanisms
It’s easy to pick up unhealthy habits when we’re down.
Emotional eating, endless scrolling on social media, or overworking to avoid dealing with internal pain—the list goes on.
However, those who consistently bounce back look for coping mechanisms that nourish them instead of deplete them.
Some people discover solace in yoga, painting, listening to music, or talking things out with a therapist.
According to the American Psychological Association, healthier coping methods can significantly improve resilience and mitigate the physical toll of stress.
The key is finding an activity that genuinely helps you process emotions, rather than shoving them under the rug.
6. They stay curious and open-minded
I’ve met individuals who seem to remain flexible in the face of massive shifts, like entire industries changing almost overnight.
Their secret? A deep-rooted curiosity that keeps them from becoming stuck in old ways of thinking.
They read, experiment with new technologies, talk to people outside their usual circles, and remain willing to admit they don’t have all the answers.
This mindset can be a real game-changer.
By staying curious, they discover strategies and solutions they never would’ve stumbled upon if they’d insisted on doing things the old, comfortable way.
That curiosity helps us adapt when life turns upside down.
If you resist new ideas, you end up clinging to outdated methods in a world that’s constantly evolving.
7. They practice self-forgiveness
The ability to forgive oneself is a powerful yet often overlooked habit.
When we’re at rock bottom, it’s common to replay our mistakes on a loop—analyzing every wrong decision, every missed signal.
But the individuals who are able to bounce back easily refuse to stay in that spiral.
They accept that they messed up, recognize that it’s part of being human, and then give themselves permission to move forward.
Personally, elf-forgiveness doesn’t come naturally to me. I tend to dwell on errors, questioning what I could’ve done differently.
Over time, though, I’ve learned that carrying around guilt didn’t help me fix anything. It only drained my energy.
Letting go meant I could better focus on actionable steps that would improve my situation.
People who excel at bouncing back are quick to learn from a fiasco, but they’re just as quick to release the self-blame.
That frees them up to channel their energy into forging a better path.
Wrapping up
We all stumble. At some point, most of us have faced that suffocating feeling of being trapped in a nightmare scenario, unsure how to climb out.
But the seven habits above are practical approaches that make a real difference.
If you’re going through a rough patch, I hope these habits remind you that you’re not powerless.
You have the ability to shape your own comeback story. When you see a glimmer of hope, latch onto it and take that first step—no matter how small.
Believe me, you’re more capable than you might think.
Moving forward from the lowest points often reveals strengths you didn’t even know you had.
And on those days when it feels impossible, just remember: progress is often found in the tiniest actions and the willingness to keep going, one day at a time.
Feeling stuck in self-doubt?
Stop trying to fix yourself and start embracing who you are. Join the free 7-day self-discovery challenge and learn how to transform negative emotions into personal growth.
