10 Simple Things to Remember When Your Day (Month) Seems to Go Wrong

“When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.”
Harriet Beecher Stowe
“If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today.” E. Joseph Cossman

Some days, everything seems to just go wrong and you just feel like giving up. Sometimes, it is not just days, but weeks or months. Today, I will share 10 things to remember when your whole day, week or month seems to go wrong. All of them have been very valuable to me.

1. There is a brand new day tomorrow: Just because this day or the last week didn’t go well doesn’t mean that there is not a brand new day tomorrow. Always remember there is a tomorrow where you can start afresh. Take action to move towards what you want and believe that this difficult time is only temporary and not permanent (even if it might feel that way right now).

2. People don’t care that much about what I do: When things go wrong then you may not only be troubled by the situation; but also by what the people around you may think or say about what happened. Don’t worry too much about that. You may be the main character in your own life, but you are not it in everybody else’s lives. They have their kids, pets, jobs and own challenges that they are fully focused on. 

3. What is going well in my life though? It is very easy to get stuck in focusing on the negative things and so they drag you deeper and deeper into self-criticism and negativity. On the other hand, it is wise to remember that there are still things that are going well in your life. It can be small things or things you often take for granted like a roof over your head, clean water or availability of basic amenities.

4. Criticism or destructive attacks may not be about me at all: Sometimes, criticism is certainly valid and should be listened to if you want to improve in life. Do not make the common mistake of always thinking that the criticism or verbal attacks you receive are about you or something you did. You do not know what is going on in the other person’s life right now; how he might be having a bad day or week or how she is miserable about her job, boss or marriage.

5. I can ask for help: Whenever things go wrong, we most often feel lonely. You don’t have to; you can ask for help and will be surprised at how the people in your life will come to give a hand or some sound advice. You can talk to a counsellor, therapist or doctor in your local area. There is usually good help and support to be found. 

6. Will this matter 5 weeks or 5 months from now? When you have a setback; make mistake or fail; it sometimes look like the sky is falling. The question above can be really helpful in difficult situations; it helps you relax. Try to see setbacks from a larger perspective by understanding that even though it is a big thing right now, it will most likely not have that much of a negative impact in the long run. 

7. I have handled tough situations in the past: It is easy to loose faith in yourself and abilities and get a bit panicky when you are standing in the middle of things going wrong. In situations like this, it’s best to look at the past in order to draw a bit of strength and confidence in what you can do. Doing this will help you feel firm again. You can further think of a solution you once used in a challenge, and can be of use or adjusted to get you out of the present situation. 

8. Setbacks can be very valuable if I let them: A common way of looking at failures, mistakes and obstacles is as something negative and things that should be avoided. On the contrary, setbacks and mistakes in life can actually be very helpful if you let them. Before you decide to move on from one of them, ask yourself: “What is one thing I can learn from this situation?” This question will help to improve a lot about how you do things in life and help you avoid repeating the same mistakes over and over again. 

9. Focus more on how-to and less on why: Processing what happened is certainly important. But, instead of thinking/looking for solutions, we take the common route of dwelling on the ‘whys’ of the negative situation. I suggest you try a different format by spending more of your time on finding the small and practical steps you can take to make things better. By so doing, you will feel more confident and less suffocated.

10. It is always darkest before the dawn: There is always light at the end of the tunnel. This will help to keep you going. When things seem to be at the lowest point, something always happen afterward. 

So glad you are here, were the tips helpful? It will be a pleasure to hear your contributions. Don’t leave without dropping a comment. Enjoy the rest of your day.