We may find ourselves stuck in habitual reactions to certain people or situations, repeating the way we respond to such situations. We can empower ourselves to create new and conscious reactions to difficult situations or people, instead of reacting in the moment. We do this by making the choice to stand up for ourselves and deciding that we matter first in our lives.
1. Choosing your future interaction with a specific person:
If there is a recurring interaction with a certain person such as a boss or close relative, and you feel that, in the past, you gave away your power or perhaps lost control of your emotions, think about how you would have liked to respond instead. Since you will have repeated interactions with this person, instead of reacting, choose how you would like the interaction to go in the future.
Thinking back to an experience that occurred, and your preferred outcome, allows you to home in on how you would like to respond in a way that fits you as well as the scope of interaction you have with that person. You empower yourself to choose how the next interaction will go. For example, if your boss tends to put you down and make you feel bad, how can you graciously stand up for yourself? What are the words you would like to use to let that person know that such behavior is not appropriate and will not be accepted?
Standing up for ourselves when we are not used to doing so can feel hard and uncomfortable at first. 
With practice, we get better at saying no to being treated in a way that is unacceptable. People treat us as we allow them to treat us. When we take the brave step of standing up to them, they either change or choose to no longer be part of our lives.
2. Preparing for opportunities that feel hard:
Sometimes we have opportunities to step up in a way that feels uncomfortable, such as doing a presentation, being in the spotlight, or asking for what we feel we deserve. Rehearsing how you wish an experience would occur, allows you to go into that experience with a steady mind and new level of confidence. When you have mentally walked through the possible outcomes, and your part in the experience, you feel ready to step into that experience.
By practicing that interaction or presentation, visualizing the response of the other person or audience, and creating the feeling you would like in that moment, you feel prepared and in control. It also empowers you to see that your fears and discomforts are not as big as you think. You walk into the experience with a new level of confidence and clarity of the outcome you desire. Just the act of thinking about the way you’d like the experience to go, begins to change the way you approach the situation. Your newfound confidence and clarity comes through to others and influences their response to you.
3. If you are in the middle of a difficult situation:
Take a few moments to breathe. If you can, close your eyes and envision yourself through the eyes of Source/God/Universe. See the powerful and beautiful soul you are. Find 5 things to feel grateful for, to reset your state of mind. From this place, go forward with the knowing that you can thrive in this moment and you can achieve your desired outcome. You can do this.
What practice works best to prepare you for facing difficult moments?
Many Blessings,
Santa
