There are few things all people have in common, such as having a terrible day every once in a while. Having the tools to pivot out of the annoying, frustrating, and even dark moments so you can experience more freedom, expansion, and relief is a non-negotiable when you have so much success ahead of you.

It’s normal to have negative feelings, even helpful at times. But the speed at which you process, pivot, and take the new path are the true indicators of how fast you’ll get to your goal. These mindset hacks are simple and straightforward, and if you use them, they can help you get out of a slump. Take what works for you and leave the rest.

Here are the 6 mindset hacks to help you pivot from the dark days to successful outcomes:

1. Dip & drop

If you’re reading this, chances are that you’re familiar with the term mindset. On the off chance that you’re not, mindset is the way in which you think about yourself, the world, and your place in the world. As with all thoughts, your mindset is flexible, and keeping it limber is part of what keeps it healthy.

When you get stuck in one pattern of thought for too long, it’s much harder for you to think about things differently. Kind of like when you’ve taken a three year hiatus from working out and can’t figure out why doing ten push ups is all of a sudden difficult. The good news is that there are a lot of exercises that can get your mindset stretched out and strong again, so you can focus on continually growing instead of staying stagnant.

Here’s the trick though, not every mindset exercise is going to tickle your fancy. Some of it you’ll love and some of it you’ll hate. Some of it will be change-your-life effective, and some will be what-the-hell-was-the-point-of-that useless. Mindset exercises are just like physical exercises—some will work for your body and some won’t.

Stay open minded and explore all kinds of mindset exercises. Dip deeper into the practices that work for you, and drop the practices that don’t. Keep track of the real time results you get from the exercises you try, and build your personal mindset fitness routine to keep your mind flexible, strong, and pivotable.

2. Phone a friend

Sometimes things come up that will make you question your worth or make you feel like a failure. Those moments suck. It’s easy to go down the self-loathing spiral, rehashing every mistake you can think of to reinforce whatever negative feelings you’re experiencing toward yourself. One of the fastest ways to cut that noise out is to phone a friend.

Not the friend who will always tell you what you want to hear. And not the friend who needs their drama to be bigger than yours. Call the friend who’s happy to be honest with you—you know, the one who tells you when you mess up and also tells you when you’re being too hard on yourself.

This is the friend who will give you perspective quickly and remind you of the real wins you’ve accumulated in your corner. The friend who can hold the space for who you really are so you can process through feeling not good enough fast and get back to kicking butt. Keep that friend on speed dial.

If you’re a business owner and something happened with a not-so-great client that’s got you down, call your best client that loves you. These are the people who will help you pivot back into a healthy mental space so you have the clarity and the wherewithal to move forward powerfully.

“When life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up. Let your reason get you back up.” – Les Brown

3. Inspirational idolatry for the win

Inspiration is a gateway for hope. In our darkest moments, it can feel like there’s no way out. You can’t see the light, you don’t know what’s next, and the only thing going through your mind on repeat is, How am I going to turn this around? It’s times like these that you need someone to look up to and be inspired by. Someone who has been where you are and made it through.

Some of the most famous dark-night-of-the-soul inspiration stories come from Colonel Sanders, Nelson Mandela, Helen Keller, J.K. Rowling, Oprah, Abraham Lincoln, Ida B. Wells, and so many more. Find the person who survived their dark night of the soul who makes you feel that glimmer of hope, and hold onto their story whenever you need some extra inspiration or strength.

4. Beat your drum

Your mind and body are connected. If you’re struggling to shift your emotions, move your body. Pick a song that fires you up, makes you feel ready to take on the day, play it loud, and move your body to it. The simple act of dancing to a song you choose and a message you believe in fills your body and mind with an energy that can carry you forward.

Make sure you don’t pull a teenage flashback and play music that keeps you in a negative loop. Music has a profound effect on the body, and you want to play music that will take you into the emotions you want to feel and out of the ones that don’t feel so good.

5. Disconnect to plug in

Have you ever wanted to call a time-out on life? This is your permission to take a time-out and pause life so you can get some perspective. One of the best ways to do this is to connect with someone who loves you and knows you deeply. This might be your grandmother, your best friend, your sibling, your cousin—your special person that when you’re with them, the rest of the world can fall away and you feel safe again. This is the person you can tell anything to, and the way they look at you won’t change. Disconnect from your current situation, and plug into their love for you.

When you take those moments to breathe and just be, the world seems more clear and focused. It’s easier to make a plan or feel like there’s space to move forward when you get to be in a place where you don’t feel the need to fight or be defensive. In the spaces where you’re most accepted are the places where you can find the reprieve you need to re-evaluate and get your mind back on track.

“The harder you fall, the heavier your heart; the heavier your heart, the stronger you climb; the stronger you climb, the higher your pedestal.” – Criss Jami

6. Decision destruction

Have you ever wanted to destroy a situation you’re in? Completely dismantle it, take its power away, and build the experience you want instead? There’s a fast track way to do that, and it’s the most simple concept in this whole slew of tools. One of the fastest ways you can destroy a negative mindset or experience is to make a definite, unwavering decision to experience something better or do something different.

It’s so simple, it sounds stupid. But your ability to make up your mind so profoundly that there is no other choice than for things to go your way is the same energy that creates unprecedented change. It doesn’t matter if it sounds silly or outrageous. What matters is that you make a solid decision you believe in, and then take action that’s in complete alignment with that decision.

What advice would you give people who are feeling down and in a rut? Share your thoughts below!