Ever have a day that you wish you could have just slept through? Some days it seems like everything that can go wrong, will.
Maybe you were supposed to have studied for the final last night but you totally forgot about it and when you were handed the test, your mind drew a complete blank on what you had been learning in class for the past three weeks. Maybe you were already late on your way to work, you tripped over a crack in the sidewalk, spilled your Starbucks' coffee all over the front of your shirt, and to make things worse, the left rear tire popped and now you have no way to get to work. Perhaps you got into an argument with your best friend and then received a call saying that a loved one passed away.
The complication of life is not an exaggeration. Sometimes, tragic events and irritating circumstances pile up, and at the end of the day, you wish you could just have a do-over. Sometimes these things happen and we wish that all of the bad, the negativity, would just go away like clouds on a sunny day.
Unfortunately, it isn't possible for us to rid the world of terrible days, so here are seven tips to ensure everyday survival, even on the worst ones!
1. Wake up in the morning with a positive attitude! (And if you can't wake up with one, do something about it!)
I have noticed in my twenty years of life that if I wake up in a terrible attitude and do nothing to correct it in the morning, I will pretty much allow myself to be in a bad mood for the rest of the day. Now, even if I wake up not feeling very well, I find a way to induct positivity into my life, which for me, usually consists of reading some Scripture an reflecting upon it. For some people, however, this may not work, so find a way to increase your mood before the rest of the day hits! If you enjoy running, take a morning jog! Do you love your new puppy? Play with him until you have to leave! Whatever it may be, find a way to brighten your morning before the rest of the day attacks.
2. Listen to encouraging music on the way to work, school, etc.!
Music is an interpretation of who we are. What we listen to reflects where our heart and mind is. If you woke up in a bad mood and didn't find a way to correct it before leaving the house, DON'T listen to music that will fuel your already negative emotions. Even if you are having a really bad start to the morning, listening to encouraging music will allow you to have a better attitude about the upcoming day. So, c'mon! Play some JoyFm, High School Musical, or Eleventyseven! Music shapes our mindset and if you want to have a great day, listening to positive music will enhance the possibilities!
3. Don't let somebody else's bad mood affect yours!
Let's face it: At least one person will probably irritate you, say something hateful, or act better than you every day. It is easier said than done, but try to share your happy vibes with the person, and if that fails, just ignore the person until they apologize for the way he/she acted. Don't allow someone to take out their feelings on you. Chances are, Johnny didn't purposely yell at you for hearing your phone ring the second you walked through the door; rather, he probably was already having a bad day and couldn't figure out a way to release his feelings before showing up to work. Remind yourself that the person most likely started out with a rough day. Maybe you can be the one who makes the other's dark day turn to a colorful one! In doing so, your mood will likely be heightened, too!
4. When things get rough, lift your cares and heartache to the Father!
Hardly any day is comprised of perfect moments and no pain. When stressing about an essay you have only half-written and have no clue how to finish, when wondering why Mittens was diagnosed with cancer, when you've cried all you can in a day over the loved one taken too soon, when you find out your best friend is moving away, most of the time all you want to do is stow away in your bed and sleep until the pain resides. We are blessed to have a loving Father in Heaven who cares about us enough to want to hear personally all of the pain He already knows we have, and He LISTENS to us. He cares deeply for you and in the midst of any storm, He is the lighthouse promising you can overcome whatever darkness is thrown your way through His help. Pray to Him and state your concerns, and be amazed when He answers right back, comforting you in His amazing, perfect peace.
5. Remember there is a purpose to your life.
Some days, we question the importance of it all. What does it matter if I live another day in this crazy life? Why should I continue going to work when I hate it? When will my time at college ever end? Why can't I get along with (insert name here)? Asking questions is helpful at times, but constantly asking yourself negative questions implies that you are unhappy with your life, and when we are unhappy with life, we often wonder what the reason for living is. Please remember that there is a purpose to your life! Even if you go years without knowing, even if you end up in your eighties wondering what the exact purpose of your life was, remember that God has a purpose for you. He formed you while you were still in your mother's womb, and He made YOU for the purpose of glorifying Him and reaching out to other people. Even if you don't know exactly what, you were born to make a difference, and even if you don't know how you could have, let me assure you that you did. We often overlook the simple things in life as meaningless, when in fact, they meant everything to someone.
6. Don't sweat the small things; everything is a small thing.
I once had a wise professor, Professor Amelung, tell the class on the first day of school the exact quote above. At first, I wasn't quite sure what he meant. I had a lot of huge family difficulties going on in my life and I couldn't quite believe that those issues were small. However, in hindsight, I recognized that everything can be considered a minute detail in life. The big things we think will impact our life won't matter in comparison to how we spend our every day life. We can spend our days worrying about what will happen next, or we can choose to live in the moment and enjoy the time we have. We can stress over everything that comes our way, or we can recognize that the things that bother us now will pass; they will come to an end eventually. Worrying does not save us a second of extra time on earth; it sometimes drains the life from you.
7. Rest in the peace of God. Pray to the Lord, read your Bible, and take some time to just relax and unwind after a long day.
After working hard all day and rushing about, doing this and that, it is crucial to take some time for yourself. When I am alone, I enjoy praying to God and thanking Him for the day He gave me. Then, I just listen for His presence and His voice. Reading my Bible helps me relax, as well and gives me a reality-check I need to remember what the purpose is for the next day. Whatever you enjoy doing at the end of the day, do that! Spend some time with your best friend and chill; watch Netflix together! Read a book, paint, color in an adult coloring book!
For everyday survival, I highly recommend doing these seven things! Ever since I started (trying) to implement them in my daily life, every day seems to work out more smoothly than if I went about it with a negative attitude from the time I wake up in the morning. There may be some things with my list that you think should be tweaked; do that! I pray that your days will turn from days of darkness to days of color all around you! The complications of life are not exaggerations, but the perspective you have reflects every day of your life. Indulge in these positive activities to overcome having rough days in your life!
