Three Keys to Mending Your Broken Spirit

There are many different strategies you can try to help you mend your broken spirit after a difficult experience. If you don't take charge, the emotional toll will keep you miserable.
Three Keys to Mending Your Broken Spirit

Last update: 11 July, 2020

We all go through bad and depressing experiences. A heated discussion, being the target of injustice, or other bad situations may leave a mark. They cause a sadness that doesn’t go away. Thus, it’s important to know how to mend your broken spirit after a bad experience.

Unfortunately, such experiences sometimes bring you down and are overly irritating. At the same time, you’re not even capable of appreciating the positive things around you. And this leads you to create new conflicts.

There are emotional vampires who suck you dry every time you face them. They upset you and leave a bad aftertaste behind. You have to learn to recognize those toxic interactions and stay as far away from them as possible. Furthermore, there are three effective keys that can help you mend your broken spirit.

“My fear is my only courage, so I’ve got to push on through.”

Bob Marley-

The first key to mending your broken spirit: Avoid anything that brings you down

Bad situations and negative, pessimistic people are infectious. Your own bad mood and negativity thrive around them. And almost without you noticing it, the feeling that everything is wrong takes a hold of you. You become irritable and feel the discomfort, but you can’t quite put a finger on what’s happening.

The first thing you must do to mend your broken spirit is identify what made you feel bad. What exactly bothered you the most about that situation? What makes you feel so upset and irritated? Why does it torment you?

Answering those questions is very important for two reasons:

  • First of all, because this will allow you to identify the causes of your discomfort.
  • Second of all, because it’ll allow you to avoid the things that bother you. You’ll no longer feel that everything is wrong, but will be able to see things in a new perspective instead. This will lead to inner peace and balance.
Thinking woman.

Identify the lingering anguish

Apparently, you’ve managed to mend your broken spirit after a difficult situation. You’ve, supposedly, stopped thinking about it and are now focusing on something else. You may have stopped thinking about whatever generated discomfort. But you may still experience tension. If you don’t dwell on it, you’ll get used to it. And then, one day, it’ll finally go away.

However, it’s possible that days or even weeks later, you might begin to experience that feeling of anguish all over again. According to psychoanalysis, anguish doesn’t lie. This means that anguish doesn’t just appear out of the blue. It means that you have feelings and emotions that you haven’t processed yet.

For that reason, the reemergence of anguish is a telling sign. It’s an alarm that reminds you that you have unfinished business.

A man facing the sea.

Rebalance

The best way to mend your spirit is to do what you enjoy. Go back to your routine after having successfully isolated the negative feelings and emotions that the difficult situation left behind. Let nothing and nobody ruin your day. It’s inevitable to experience bad situations, but you can’t allow them to affect you that much.

Furthermore, once you’ve dealt with your feelings, focus on what makes you feel good. Go out for a walk and get some ice cream. Or have a conversation with someone you like. Just do anything that’s stimulating and positive to you. Rebalance and overcome your lingering bad feelings.

However, neither ignoring nor allowing yourself to be bothered will restore your balance. The healthiest way to do so is to take a moment to think, clarify, and isolate the feelings that torment you. Then, do something you like. After that, return to your normal life. Turn the page and move on to the next.


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • Augustine, N. R. (2001). Gestión de la Crisis. Grupo Planeta (GBS).

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.