Life doesn’t always go as we would like it to, despite our best hopes and wishes. In fact, sometimes life can be downright unfair. The secret to life isn’t about avoiding the storm altogether, but rather about learning how to dance in the rain, and replace the transformer. Whether it’s a rejection from someone you had a crush on, or you didn’t get that promotion, sometimes you have to look at life on the bright side, regardless of how much it may suck.
Staying positive when things don’t come your way is essential. That doesn’t mean you have to pretend like everything is perfect when it isn’t, but rather find a way to be productive and optimistic, despite everything feeling like it’s a disaster. This won’t just improve the quality of your life, but also improve the lives of those around you. Yet, it may seem impossible, especially when everything seems like it’s going wrong. If you’re not sure how, here is an all-in-one guide to staying positive when life doesn’t go your way.
Let Yourself Feel The Feels
Staying positive doesn’t mean you can’t allow yourself to grieve or feel the loss of whatever you didn’t get. It’s OK to be upset when things don’t go right — in fact, it’s downright healthy to acknowledge what went wrong. Give yourself a little time to get angry, vent, or cry.
Do whatever it takes to get it out, and then move on to the next step. Think of your feelings as guests at a party. If you ignore them, they’ll start knocking on the door louder; yet if you simply let them in, they’ll eventually go home.
Gain Some Perspective
When you’re going through a hard time, it can feel like the whole world is crashing down. Yet, in reality, your problem is simply one small speck in the entire universe. Step back, zoom out, and gain some perspective. Think about the world in its entirety, and your life in its entirety. This is only one bad chapter of your life, and only one small piece of the big picture. It’s temporary, and it’s essential that you remind yourself that this too, shall pass.
Be Kind With Self-Talk
If a friend were going through a bad time, you wouldn’t tell them they probably deserved it and that things were only going to get worse, would you? That’s why it’s so important that you don’t talk to yourself any differently. Talk to yourself the same way you would a friend, and be encouraging.
Remind yourself of how awesome you are and that things will eventually get better. Be kind, be encouraging, and remember that you deserve the same love and respect as anyone else you’d be talking to.
