There’s all kinds of great motivation saying out there about getting back up after you’ve been knocked down. Paulo Coelho says, “The secret to life is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.”

He’s right, of course. And, is it really as simple as getting back up?

Like one of those pop-up punching bags do we just need to get back up….no matter what? Or, is there a trick to getting back up?

For me, HOW I get up always determines how my next attempt goes. Applying a slower, more deliberate, more thought-out way to learn from the punches takes way less tries than the pop-up punching bag approach.

Here’s my 5 best most useful steps for HOW to get up after being knocked down:

1. Listen.
Listen to your heart. Listen to your gut. Listen to your guides, God, the Universe.

It takes a little bit of time and patience.

You gotta listen long enough to get past the ego’s voice (fear). Like a scared child, your fearful self needs compassion. Accept it (your fearful self). Welcome it into your heart AND keep listening.

When the fear subsides you’ll feel a shift in your body. Then, if you’re still listening, new non-repeating info will come to you.

This is the good stuff.

This is the Universe communicating directly with you.

2. Work it out.
Journal, write, create, yell, scream, cry, sweat— anything that works. it. outta. you.

Now I’m not talking venting or ranting where you tell the story over and over again while keeping your death grip on it + letting it become part of your identity. This actually makes it worse.

I’m talking about working the energy out of you.

Choose ways to process + let go of the physical feelings. Separate from ‘em.

Picture ‘em leaving you. Literally (and metaphorically) practice opening your hands, your heart, you arms and letting these details leave you.

There is no way to keep something inside you- including your mind- AND let it go. Be willing to work it out of you, your mind, body and soul.

3. Own your part.
I love the Law of Attraction, and this is why.

As hard as it can be to accept responsibility for what happens to us, it’s also totally + completely empowering.

Without this piece we end up feeling like victims. With no control over our lives or what happens to us.

Owning our part. Looking for our blind spots, expectations, energy set points and actions that helped create this experience is how we feel empowered. And, how we heal.

4. Look for the lesson.
I’m a big believer that everything happens for a reason.

I used to say it ‘cause I liked the way it sounded. But the more Law of Attraction coaching I do, the more I realize that this mindset is really what makes the difference in people’s lives.

Much like owning your part, when you’re willing to look at everything that happens to you as a lesson, it means you’re willing to look at the whole picture not just the ouchie stuff.

It’s a way of being open, which means when you get back up again you’re open to doing well. You’re open to things going right this time.

5. Give thanks.
Whatever it was that knocked ya down is full of gifts for you.

It’s full, totally, of information about you, your project, your wants and your life. When you’re able to give thanks for this info you’re able to learn from it. Digest it. Understand it and CHOOSE something different next time.

When you’re willing to see it as an opportunity the possibilities are endless.

*This post was originally published on Caley’s website, Life Purpose Coaching. For more from Caley visit http://www.caleyphilipps.com.

Image via CoSozo.