10 Things to Remember When Bad Things Happen
Ever have such a terrible day that you just want to crawl under your covers to escape the world? We’ve all been there. And sometimes life is just rotten. Sometimes life will dump news in your lap that’s so horrendous, it takes you a while to fully comprehend what has happened.
Maybe One Day is a story about love, loss, and above all, the eternal bonds of friendship (and BTW – you could win a free copy of this incredible book by entering our giveaway below). Zoe and Olivia have grown up together as brilliantly skilled dancers. When they’re both cut from their dance academy and are forced to return to their hometown high school, they try to cope with their crippling disappointment and move on together. Olivia, the glass-half-full thinker of the two, continues to dance by teaching underprivileged girls. Zoe decides to erase that part of her life entirely and tosses all of her dance gear in the garbage.
Zoe doesn’t think things can get much worse, until Olivia’s week-long fever and fatigue lands her in the hospital with a rare and surprising Leukemia diagnosis. As her world begins to crumble with fear and uncertainty surrounding her best friend’s health, Zoe struggles to stay positive (something she’s never been good at) for Olivia, and stay focused on her schoolwork and future happiness. And how could she, when the only person who matters to her might be slipping away? This is a powerful and accurate account of a brave battle with cancer. This is a heartbreaking tale about emotional growth, trust, and selfless love. This book is a reminder that no matter how bad things get, they could always be worse, and it’s important to do whatever you can to stay positive in times of struggle.
And speaking of reminders, here are 10 things to remember when bad things happen. Hopefully, this will help you breathe a little easier the next time everything turns to sh**. I’m not a therapist, but these are the things that have worked for me, and I hope they can help you as well.
1. Deep breaths WILL calm you down.
There’s a reason yoga is such a positive, therapeutic activity. When you focus solely on your breath, you cannot focus on anything else. You force your brain to SHUT IT and with the stressful thoughts silenced, you can steady your mind and heart rate. One deep breath probably won’t cut it. Three might not even cut it. No matter how many it takes, keep breathing in and out and eventually, you’ll feel a little better.
2. Netflix loves you.
Another way to shut off your brain is to surround yourself with comforting, familiar, mindless stimuli. My go-to after a stressful day or event is reruns of The Office, New Girl, or It’s Always Sunny via Netflix. I’ve seen every episode about 65 times and I don’t even need to see the screen to understand what’s happening or what the next line is. Consider Netflix your security blanket and snuggle up with the shows and characters you’ve loved for years.
3. Tomorrow will be kinder.
Or maybe it won’t. Maybe it’ll be a hell of a lot worse. But in the wise words of the evil President Snow of Panem, “Hope is the only thing stronger than fear.” Find hope somewhere deep down, and do not let it go.
4. You are not alone.
The internet gives us access to billions of people from all over the world. Out there in the vast interwebs is someone who understands what you’re going through and who has been through the same thing. No matter what it is, someone else has probably experienced it. Google it, look through Twitter and blogs, and see what you can kinds of relatable connections you can make.
5. Love is everywhere.
Bullies are everywhere and are among every age group. Not every horrible child turns into a self-aware, kind adult. Some are just horrible until their very last breath. But they do not accurately reflect humanity as a whole. Every day there’s a new story about random acts of kindness and inspiring tales of perseverance. Find them, and return to them when your world goes dark.
6. There’s always chocolate.
After a sour day, #TreatYoSelf to something sweet. Chocolate is a really dependable buddy. Give him a call when you need him.
7. But beware of the void.
Just make sure you understand that chocolate is a temporary way to make yourself feel better. And sholveling more and more chocolate into your belly will not fix whatever sadness you’re faced with. The sadness will return once your sweet snack is digested, but as long as it’s in moderation (and not involving excessive booze, drugs, or other things that could hurt your health), it’s okay to give yourself something that’ll cheer you up.
8. Organization is power.
You might not be able to control what has happened, but you can control how you react and deal with it. Lists are my favorite thing to make when I feel like my life is spiraling out of control. They help you map out a way to get back on track, and also how to manage your emotions.
9. Knowledge is power.
Maybe something terrible has just happened and you’re not sure how to cope. Learning more about whatever it is, or what it means can be another way to regain control. Research will serve as a distraction, and will lead to knowledge gained that you can use to plan your next move.
10. The pain is temporary.
You’re not going to feel like this forever. But the emotional, physical, and spiritual growth you will gain from this pain will never fade.
We all need to process bad news and grieve in our own way, but maybe one day you’ll feel lost on how to deal with something. Any of the steps above will help. And we’re here for you.
Giveaway Deets:
Answer this in the comment section below and you could win a FREE COPY of Maybe One Day: If you were told you had two weeks to live, how would you spend that time?
*Only entries from residents of US and Canada will be considered.
Featured image via Shutterstock
Additional images via Shutterstock
