The "Bad Day" Takeaway
They’re inevitable. You’re going to have them. Hopefully not too many, but they happen. Bad days. Yuck, I know.
I believe positive thoughts attract positive energy, opportunity and experiences, and focusing on negative outcomes and experiences only leads to a back hole of negativity. The words “bad day” don’t typically come out of my mouth, rather I try to internalize and reflect on the positive takeaways, if possible. Some days it’s more difficult to do this than others, but reflection is important so you don’t stumble down magnetic path of destruction.
Recently, I’ve had a few consecutive days that have not made my "grateful for” list, but what I am grateful for, is my intuition and reflection on how to handle unpleasant situations.
Here are 5 ways to uncover your bad-day takeaway, and unwrap the hidden, positive and more meaningful message:
Plug In. Tune all the “ish” out. Find a good play list. Maybe something nostalgic, or maybe it’s something that calms your cries of anger. Grab your headphones and crank it. Limit your distractions and find something to mindlessly focus on for at least 20 minutes. If you’re at work, tell your co-workers you’re “plugging in” and to throw something at you, only if it’s important.
Step Out. Remove yourself from the environment you were when you realized you entered the “bad day” aisle. Take a walk where you can clear your head and appreciate a different space. Take note of something you appreciate or are grateful for in this new space. “It’s 6 p.m. and the sun is still out. I love that because it allows me to look forward to spring.” Or, "I just hit a green light, YAAAAS!” Whatever it is, domino this into 3-5 positive thoughts.
Confide in a Confidant. Sometimes saying it out loud and talking with a friend can help put things into perspective. But, it’s important to be mindful of who you confide in. Someone who will listen, and if you want or need advice, is willing to honestly coach you through it rather someone who will tell you what you want to hear. Maybe you’re overreacting, or maybe they have a suggestion for you. My parents and Dan are my go-to people when I need outside perspective.
Exercise. It’s been proven time and again that cardio gets endorphins flowing, and it’s difficult to be negative when you’re on a happy high. After having Cameron, I don’t always have the time, motivation or energy to workout but when I commit myself to doing it (whether I want to or not), I never regret it. It’s another way to clear your head and is a physical release. Win-Win.
Reflect. Ask yourself if it will matter a day from now. A week? Will it matter a month from now. If it doesn’t maybe you’re on edge and need to release some pent up energy (winter can do that to a Nebraskan), and if it will matter a month from now, damn it. But that means you need to do something different, or something needs to change. It could be your daily routine, how you eat, or a new milestone. Figure out what you need to overcome the icky feeling.
Bonus Tip! Make a Choice. You don’t always have control over what happens to you, but you do have control over how you react to it. If you choose to preemptively react and stay angry, then you’ll be angry, or you make a choice to not dwell on the subject, and focus on what the bigger picture is. Maybe your confidant was right, you overreacted, or maybe something needs to change. If something needs to change, focus on what needs to be done to make things better.
Trust your intuition, use these suggestions as check points and you may just find the silver lining to your bad day and pin-point a positive takeaway or action plan for a better tomorrow. It may be bittersweet, but it may just open your eyes to a new opportunity.
-xoxo
Sarah