“You become a champion by fighting one more round. When things are tough, you fight one more round.” – James Corbett

If you’ve been having a rough day, you may be ready to throw in the towel. But don’t give up yet! Here’s some encouragement in your time of feeling down.

Put it all into perspective – Ran out of gas on the way to work? Airline lost your luggage? It’s frustrating and exhausting to go through the challenging moments of life. Let yourself feel the negative feelings, but realize that inconveniences and frustrations like these are just that. Feel them, but don’t let them ruin your perspective on life. It’s in these moments that you have to find the inner strength deep inside you that will allow you to push past your bad day and have a good one.

Focus on what you can change – You can’t help that another car hit you in traffic. It’s unfair, it’s inconvenient, and it’s stressful. However, complaining and dwelling on your upset feelings will not make the process go any faster or help you gain back any lost time.

It’s okay to feel overwhelmed and frustrated, but your day will only move forward if you make the decision to focus on things you can actually change. There are only so many things that are within your realm of power on any given day. Focus on the selection of things that you are able to accomplish, and relinquish control over the rest.

Use your support system – It’s definitely okay to vent; remember that. You need to do it. Cry if you have to! Eat that second cupcake, if you want. Don’t be overly concerned with guilt-trips and what you should or shouldn’t do. Everyone’s entitled to a bad day and expressing their feelings how they choose to.

Realize the power is yours – What potential does the day now hold? What potential does tomorrow hold? Resist the temptation to keep wallowing in negative emotions. Your strength is not defined by how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get back up.

There is still something to be gained and learned, even if that lesson or moral is that sometimes you just have to take it all in stride. It may not be fair and it definitely will not be easy, but bad days have just as much potential for positive impact and change as any other day.

About Alex Blackwell

Alex Blackwell is the author of Letting Go: 25 True Stories of Peace, Hope and Surrender, which includes 10 free Peace and Balance tools.
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