No matter how positive we are, most of us experience off days where we don’t feel like our normal selves. On these days, it’s common to feel low on energy, sad, stressed, worried, and a range of other negative emotional states. Although these days aren’t easy to deal with, nor is any advice always easy to accept or practise, we’ve listed 7 things to remember when you’re having a bad day:
1. It’s okay to have a bad day
In life you will face struggles and difficult moments. We’re not expected to be perfect in an imperfect world. These bad days happen; sometimes we’re very good at dealing with them, and other times they can get the better of us. However, you’ve probably had bad days before and we’re guessing that you’ve dealt them just fine. Your track record is 100% when dealing with bad days, so don’t worry, you’ll overcome this too! Without these bad days, how are you supposed to appreciate the good ones right?
“If you look for perfection, you’ll never be content.” – Leo Tolstoy
2. It will pass
This bad day will pass, and whatever it is that is upsetting you, will pass too. Nothing lasts forever; time is often the best healer. Even the darkest of nights need to come to an end, so that the Sun can rise again. New days begin with new possibilities. You’re going to be okay; you need to remind yourself that. All these feelings of negativity will soon go away because they are temporary, just like the situation itself.
“Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and repeat to yourself, the most comforting words of all; this, too, shall pass.” – Ann Landers
3. Every experience brings with it an important lesson
Life’s greatest lessons are learnt as a result of tough times. It’s like when you buy a car based on its appearance, to later discover it doesn’t satisfy you in the slightest. You’ll then go on to learn that looks aren’t everything, you’ll identify what you actually require in a car, and may even stay away from the manufacturer of the car you bought. It’s also evident here that lessons are actually secretly blessings.
“I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” – Marilyn Monroe
4. Life isn’t always perfect but there’s so much to be thankful for
Don’t forget to show gratitude! Remember, there are tons of people who would love to have your struggles right now; your life would still be better than theirs. We tend to focus on the things that we don’t have or the things that go wrong, yet there’s so much we do have that we should be thankful for. Even waking up in the morning is a blessing. Gratitude is not only a magnet for good energy, but when we get into the habit of constantly counting our blessings, we experience more moments of happiness.
“Every day may not be good…but there’s something good in every day.” – Alice Morse Earle
5. It’s only as bad as I think it is
Think about this. Is a problem, a problem, if we don’t think it’s a problem? If we can’t perceive a problem to be a problem, then it no longer holds value as a problem. Now we’re not saying that this bad day doesn’t exist, but rather, you define how bad this day is. People tend to overthink things and make problems much worse than they are, by adding negative suggestions and venomous ideas about something that has occurred. It’s so easy to blow something out of proportion. Don’t let your mind keep you captive.
“The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem.” – Captain Jack Sparrow (from the movie Pirates Of The Caribbean)
6. I can choose my thoughts at any given moment
Many of our articles state that positive thoughts attract positive things, while negativity does the complete opposite. This is the Law of Attraction. The great thing is that we can choose our thoughts at any given time. Some thoughts will empower us and others will limit us. Neither types of thoughts are true until we acknowledge them and thus give them existence. It’s quite easy to spot which ones we need to focus on.
We know it’s not always easy to be positive if you don’t feel it inside, and that’s why you have to look at things from a positive perspective. Try and correct your negative thoughts. If you’re telling yourself that your life is hard, remind yourself of the children without homes, food and water; your life is a blessing. If you’re feeling sad due to an injury such as a spraining your wrist, remind yourself of all the people that have no arms or legs. Imagine how they get by. Show gratitude, as identified in the step above, and then focus on your day becoming better. Both gratitude and thoughts of intent are powerful in creating positive change.
“There is so much about my fate that I cannot control, but other things do fall under the jurisdiction. I can decide how I spend my time, whom I interact with, whom I share my body and life and money and energy with. I can select what I can read and eat and study. I can choose how I’m going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life-whether I will see them as curses or opportunities. I can choose my words and the tone of voice in which I speak to others. And most of all, I can choose my thoughts.” – Elizabeth Gilbert
7. I deserve to spend my precious time being happy
Every moment that we experience, will be a moment that we will never get back. Our future is never guaranteed because time is never guaranteed – we only assume that we will have the moment that follows from now. So do not waste your time being sad, spend it being happy and joyful. Create great memories that you can look back on and be proud of. If this was your last hour to live, how would you like to remember your life? What would you do? We’re sure that you wouldn’t want to remember and spend it being unhappy. Let go of whatever it is that’s holding you back and live your life in the way you’re supposed to live it; being happy.
“You live longer once you realize that any time spent being unhappy is wasted.” – Ruth E. Renkl
There you have it, that’s 7 things to remember when you’re having a bad day. Do you have any other suggestions? Please share them in our comments section below. You never know how useful they might be to others.
Author: Vex King
I am the founder and owner of the Bon Vita lifestyle brand. I could give myself a title and call myself a lifestyle entrepreneur, personal mentor, writer, designer, innovator, CEO, or anything else I see as fitting. However no title can define me as an individual. I’m just an optimist, a visionary, a philanthropist and jack of many trades. I’m using my positive influence to redefine the creative industries using Good Vibes Only #GVO so that people can fulfil their dreams, purposefully, and enjoy The Good Life #TGL. My daily words of intent are to make people… Think, look & feel GOOD!
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