Read This: When Things Go From Bad To Worse
Picture this: You wake up late for work and hit insane traffic otw there. You decide to brew a quick office coffee, and en route to your desk, you spill it everywhere. Great! Now you’re bustling back to your computer, dabbing stains out of your blouse, pressing hazelnut essence into your chest like it’s a Replica perfume.
You breathlessly hop on a call with a big-money client and fumble the sale (of course) because 1) you forgot that was today 2) you didn’t have time to prepare and 3) couldn’t pull up your slides because of problems 1 and 2.
Devastated that you missed the commission from the sale that was meant to fund your holiday to Tokyo for your best friend’s completely unaffordable bachelorette trip, you head to the restroom for a post-meeting silent cry, and your belt loop catches on the door handle.
There’s no way around it— you’re having a bad day. Actually, maybe it’s been a bad month:
The death of a childhood friend
Another failed situationship
The best person you know received a cancer diagnosis
Still no luck in your months-long job search
Things go from bad to worse and it feels like God, or the Universe, has a personal vendetta against you.
You wonder if karma’s finally caught up to you from laughing a little too hard when your brother shat himself on your last family vacation or if this is all happening because you lied about cheating on a 6th-grade math test.
The truth is: Sometimes, life sucks.
While it’s completely okay to acknowledge that and it’s perfectly human to feel it, emotionally settling into disappointment, anger or hopelessness for an OD amount of time doesn’t benefit your situation, health, lifestyle goals, or ultimate happiness.
Lessons From God’s Strongest Soldier On FMLA (I Sang “Oceans” Once and God Said ‘Bet’)
Clarity, healing, and peace cannot be found at the bottom of a tequila bottle, in lines on a table, or in the ash of a roach. Bad habits won’t bring anyone or anything back.
There’s no amount of “locking in” that can undo feelings of rejection.
Self-punishment (mentally beating yourself up) can’t rewrite reality. Guilt and shame are metaphysical YNs! Your confidence and hope for the future is a spiritual lick to them. 😩
How To Make Hard Days Easier
When I feel out of control, this list of “controllables” brings me back to center.
Accept the situation.
Look, I’m no therapist, but common sense tells me that denial gets us nowhere.
Feeling internal prompts about seeking professional help? Go for it - it’s your gut speaking.
(Emotionally) face it.
Avoidant baddies hate this, but b*tch, you need to grieve!
Journaling is a practice that’s helped me be honest with myself about my experiences, feelings, and limiting beliefs.
We’ve heard it time and time again: “healing is not linear.” Emotions are messy. Patience and vulnerability are key for shifting perspective.
Manifest/pray for what you want.
This does not mean comment to “claim” that your ex is still thinking about you on a tarot girl’s Tiktok.
It means write a detailed description of your dream partner, family life, career, and lifestyle.
This isn’t woo-woo or magic, but setting a spiritual expectation. Doechii recommended a book I’m currently reading on manifesting, based on Mark 11:24. Main theme: desire, intend, know it’s possible, and it will be arranged to come to you.
Fill your time with habits that empower you.
We’re grown. We know that exercise releases endorphins. If you’re chasing happiness, you’ve got to prioritize time for it.
You don’t need to overhaul your entire schedule. Do you have 30 minutes?
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Don’t underestimate the power of sun touching your skin.
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Are we still in a bad mood because we’re dehydrated and haven’t had real food in 5 days? Maybe.
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Never let a bad day keep you from being a bad b*tch. C’mon now.
Get up, brush your teeth, and run a curling iron through your hair.
Feeling pretty = confidence to face anything.
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If life is demanding a lot from you, fuel your spirit with meaningful words. The Five Minute Journal changed my life. It takes no time, but is the most effective thing I do daily to keep vibes high.
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The Emancipation of Mimi has never failed to turn a day around for me. What are your favorite childhood albums? When’s the last time you listened?
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Give yourself something to look forward to. Try a new recipe, commit to a running plan, book a trip in a city you’ve been dying to visit.
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I’m very stubborn, so for me to say this, trust that it’s a recession indicator. If you’re paying for counseling, action their advice. Just see what happens!
None of this is to encourage you to view life through rose-colored glasses. If anything, I’ve learned that romanticizing my life doesn’t mean pretending everything’s perfect. It means prioritizing small, life-giving choices that turn a 3/10 day into a solid 5.
5. Lean into community.
Challenging seasons give our relationships a chance to grow deeper. The trust and connection you build in a friendship today might become the foundation you’ll need 5, 10, or even 20 years from now.
Is there anyone in your life who knows everything about you? Maybe this season is an invitation to let someone in to build a bond that lasts a lifetime.
Remember: Storms Come, But They Always Pass
Life is full of twists and turns. The energy you bring and habits you create during dark seasons shape and strengthen you for what’s to come.
We can't always control what happens to us, but we can choose how we respond. Small choices shape our perspective more than we think.
So, you tell me: which one feels better to say? “My life sucks,” or “Today sucked, but I sat in the sun on my lunch break and it made me feel better”?
It’s totally possible to experience misery and not be miserable. Life can still be enjoyed, even in small moments throughout your day. Start now. Sometimes, all it takes is a little shift to change everything.