We have all heard, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” It is quite an old saying. The gist of this saying is that whenever life throws problems at us, we must consider these problems as opportunities to shine, learn and grow.
Lemon is a citric fruit. It has a fruity juice sour flavor with very few undertones of sweetness and equal bitterness. Thus, lemons are a tricky fruit to work with.
But if we look around us, hundreds of our favorite dishes have lemons as a critical ingredient. Some of These Dishes that are Loved all over the world are – Rich lemon cheesecake makes everyone’s mouth water. Pies are flavorful dishes, and a lemon meringue pie is everyone’s favorite.
A cool glass of lemonade with lots of ice and some orange juice is the most refreshing drink after a long tiring day. Making lemonade is relatively easy too. Acidic lemon juice is part of many people’s everyday routines because of its many health benefits. A lot of people rely on lemon water detox for health care.
Chicken lemon taco is people’s favorite order at a taco stand. Isn’t lemon chicken the most loved chicken dish out there? Toasted paprika on top makes for a perfect garnish.
A good lemon cake with loads of melted butter makes for a perfect dessert. Lemon marmalade on a toasted slice of bread gives a perfect start to the day. Despite lemons suggest sourness at its core, lemons contribute to the recipes of so many great dishes and desserts.
We were talking about the saying “when life hands you lemons, make sweet lemonade” in the literal sense.
But if we think of it metaphorically, the saying appeals to us as it makes us believe that just the way a tricky ingredient like lemon can help us make the tastiest dishes, in the same way when life hands us lemons, get a lemonade stand (that is, problems, troubles and worries), we can make a fantastic spread of opportunities out of them.
It’s not good to waste food, so make the best use of them when life gives you lemons squeeze. Our worries are like sour lemons, so add melted butter and bake a cake when life gives you this citrus fruit. Problems are like free lemons, all you have to do is help yourself by turning lemons into refreshing lemonade.
Here are 22 things to do when life gives you lemons.
Know What You Should Do When Life Gives You Lemons
1) When Life Gives You Lemons, Think Straight
Whenever problems come our way, falling into a spiral of overthinking might seem very tempting. It is essential to think straight. It is necessary to be solution-oriented rather than being problem-oriented. It is essential to think constructively, no matter what.
We must never forget that our thoughts can always be under our control if we know how to tame the craziness of our minds. We must never forget that we are our own life’s manager; nobody else has the power to govern what we think and how we think. It doesn’t matter how sour lemons are handed to us; it is in our hands to decide in our subconscious mind to not overthink and to think in a direction that shall be helpful.
2) When Life Gives You Lemons, Stay Calm
Try to recall whenever life handed lemons to you. What helped? Panicking or staying calm and composed? I’m pretty sure that it was staying calm that helped. Whenever life gives you lemons, shove your calmness in life’s face. Don’t blame life for putting you in tough times. Focus on the hundreds of things that you would learn after overcoming the problem.
3) When life gives You Lemons, Don’t Worry
It might seem like a terrible gift when life gives you lemons, but don’t worry. Worrying solves no problem imaginable in the entire world. It is straightforward and natural to start worrying in adverse situations. But worrying leads us nowhere. Worrying makes it difficult for us to think correctly and causes a problem to seem worse than it actually is.
Worrying is a harmful activity, and anything negative shall definitely not help in tough times. So don’t fall into the vicious cycle of negative thoughts. When life hands you lemons, stop worrying, start thinking correctly and don’t let your mind mislead you. When life hands you lemons as a gift, use a beautiful gift wrap and transform it into an opportunity.
4) When Life Gives You Lemons, Be Optimistic
It is essential to have a positive can do attitude in a negative situation. To overcome any issue, it is essential to think positively; it is necessary to stay optimistic. Whenever you find yourself in a challenging position, look for ways to stay positive. Go out with your friends, spend time with your family, read some funny quotes, watch a happy movie, order your favorite food. Whenever we think positively, our brain becomes de-cluttered from all the negative mess, and eventually, we can arrive at a helpful solution. Keep in mind that many other doors to beautiful places open when one door shuts. Try to look on the bright side.
5) When Life Gives You Lemons, Be Practical
We often start wandering in a fairyland that is quite distant from reality. While this wandering may offer temporary relief, it never gives a permanent solution. It is important to think practically. Practical solutions are the only solutions that work and are effective.
To think practically, have a defined mindset where there is no space for negative thoughts, be aware of the reality and all the resources available to you. Think of solutions using the resources that you have. Being practical in challenging situations makes it easier to navigate our way out of the problem.
6) When Life Gives You Lemons, Be Creative
There have been science, psychology, mathematics, physics, history and geography problems that have left scholars bewildered, perplexed, and confused. These problems left the world wondering for solutions. The solutions to these problems were always found by being creative, thinking out of the box add a few tequila shots if it makes you happy.
So, when life gives you lemons, bring out all the creativity you have to reach a solution. When life hands you lemons, be creative and make some lemon art. Don’t think with barriers and walls in your mind. Think out of the box and think of above and beyond solutions.
7) When Life Hands You Lemons, Believe in You
When life hands one a lemon, motivating oneself plays a significant role in finding the solution. Believe in your strengths. Believe in your powers. Believe in your talents. Believe in your resources. Don’t stop believing. Read some motivational quotes. Read some motivational stories. Watch some interviews of people who inspire you and motivate you. When life hands you lemons, tackle those damn lemons by believing in the power of your capabilities.
8) When Life Gives You Lemons, Give Your 100%
Make a conscious effort to devote your everything to find a solution to the problem at hand. Work hard. Workday and night. Work whenever you can to find a beneficial solution to the lemons handed to you by life. Don’t sit around with a problem. Find solutions and work hard to implement them. There has never been, and there will never be, any success without hard work.
9) When Life Gives You Lemons, Be Patient
Rome was not built in a day. Finding the solution to any problem takes time. Patience is the key in such situations. Stay calm and remember that good things always take time when life gives you lemons. Stay patient, and don’t try to rush the process of your growth and development. Keep working hard, and after some time, the best will come back to you.
10) When Life Gives You Lemons, Don’t Be Scared
Don’t be scared of anything. Fear is the enemy of hope. Don’t let fear drive you into a bottomless pit hole of worry, negativity and pessimism. Stay strong and be brave.
11) When Life Gives You Lemons, Stay Hopeful
Hope is the most powerful driving force in nature. Hope can help one move mountains. No matter how challenging the circumstances of your life are, never lose hope. Hope can lead us to wonders that we never knew we were capable of. When life gives you lemons, clench onto every bit of hope in your heart.
12) When Life Gives You Lemons, Stay Grounded
One might get overwhelmed by the chaos that accompanies a problem. It is in our power and in our hands to not lose our sanity and stay grounded. During uncertain times, be grateful and stay connected with your loved ones. Practice breathing exercises. Don’t lose control. Your life might seem like complete mayhem, but beyond the madness lie great moments of happiness and contentment.
13) When Life Gives You Lemons, Don’t Be in Denial
Accepting the reality and being okay with the situation you are in solves the majority of the problem. Not being in denial and accepting what you are facing helps us have a more precise thought process and allows us to arrive at a solution quicker and much more accessible. To accept the situation and all its dimensions, sit in peace for a while, make yourself comprehend all the aspects of the problem in front of you and tell yourself that you have all the capabilities you need to tackle the problem.
14) When Life Gives You Lemons, Take Breaks
It is essential to work hard, but at the same time, it is also necessary to take some breaks. Go for a walk. Read a book. Call a friend. Spend some time with your pet. Work on your journal. Take up a hobby. Play the guitar. Play football. Just the way our electronic devices need to be charged from time to time, similarly, we human beings also need to be set by the fuel of rest after working hard for some time.
15) When Life Gives You Lemons, Think of A Solution
Remember, it’s just a lemon. Don’t think of it as a monstrous issue. The solution is probably just right there in front of you. Take it easy when you’re faced with lemons. Keep it simple. Try to keep it simple. Think out of the box, but don’t forget to first think of all the obvious possible solutions. You will likely be able to succeed by just thinking simply.
16) When Life Gives You Lemons, Prioritize Your Well-Being
When life gives you lemons, don’t stop thinking about yourself. Don’t stop prioritizing yourself. Take your meals on time. Drink lots of water. Please do whatever you enjoy doing, whether singing, dancing, painting or journaling. Self-care is very important when you are going through a difficult phase. Don’t be too harsh on yourself. Treat yourself with kindness and love.
17) When Life Gives You Lemons, Go Out
“Nature yields her most profound secrets to the person who is determined to uncover them,” said Napoleon Hill.
When life gives you lemons, go out and spend some time in the lap of nature. Sit in a park, under a shady tree. Watch the sunrise or watch as the sun goes down. Spending some time in and around nature clears the mind and helps it easier to focus and think wisely.
18) When Life Gives You Lemons, Laugh It Off
When life gives you lemons, open Google and searches “when life gives you lemons funny quotes.” The search results will surely make you laugh and tickle your mind.
Whenever a problem comes, please don’t take it too seriously. Analyze the gravity of the situation and build the plot about the pain in your head accordingly. Never overestimate a problem. Try to think of the problem lightly in your head. Laugh it off, if possible. Be constructive. Don’t make a problem seem too grave to yourself.
19) When Life Gives You Lemons, Count Your Blessings
The sight of all our blessings might become blurry when we are surrounded by problems all around us. Keeping count of all our beautiful blessings in harsh times makes it easier to go on. Start by focusing on the most basic yet essential gifts, such as food, air, water, clothes, shelter and then move on to everything else you are grateful for, such as your family, your friends, your pets, your siblings, your teachers, nature, books, movies, anything and everything.
You can even thank the people you feel lucky to have in your life. It will make them feel special, and it will also make you happy.
20) When life Gives You Lemons, Be with People Who Bring out The Best
We meet hundreds of people in our life. Some of them become our personal cheerleaders. They bring out the best in us by motivating us to give our best.
They believe in us when we don’t believe in our own selves. They make us realize that we can achieve everything that our heart desires. Our personal cheerleaders in life add freaking sugar to the lemons thrown at us by life and help us make a great lemonade. They add colors to our lives and help us do even better. They help us make pink lemonade, better than a usual lemonade.
21) When Life Gives You Lemons, Feel
Don’t shut off your feelings and emotions when life gives you lemons. There lies a lot of strength in vulnerability. Cry. Don’t bottle up your emotions. Let all the feelings that are whirling inside you come out. Remember that beyond your tears lies a hopeful tomorrow.
22) When Life Gives You Lemons, Remember, You’ve Done This Before
We face hassles every day. Problems, big and small, come our way all the time. Up until now, every single problem that has ever occurred in your life, you have faced bravely and have eventually tackled it. So, when life gives you lemons the next time, don’t forget about all the times in the past when life gave you lemons, and you made a great lemonade. Be proud of yourself. Be proud of your journey. Be proud of how far you’ve come and how far you are going to go.
23) When Life Gives You Lemons, Make the Best Lemonade Ever
When Life Gives You Lemons…
Think straight. Stay calm. Don’t worry. Have a positive mindset. Be practical. Be creative. Believe in yourself. Give your 100%. Be patient. Don’t be scared. Stay hopeful. Stay grounded. Don’t be in denial. Don’t forget to take breaks. Take it easy. Take care of yourself. Go out. Laugh it off. Count your blessings. Remember, you’ve done this before.
Work hard every day and believe in your magic. You are built to fight against the biggest of challenges in life. You have everything in you to fight against all your demons.
Just keep your head high, and whenever life gives you lemons, you will make the best, most unique, refreshing, and delicious lemonade ever.
Last Updated on by Sathi