How is your day going? Maybe today is one of those days that you’ve come to the conclusion that it’s just a bad day. And if it isn’t today, maybe you are recovering from one yesterday or you might have one waiting for you tomorrow.
Whatever the case, we’ve all had them for one reason or another. It might have been a phone call or a meeting that didn't go well. Maybe an expectation went unmet. It might have been the result of being let down by a friend or co-worker. Or maybe you're dealing with an unwanted or unexpected health diagnosis.
If you’re going through it today, I’m sorry.
Bad days are hard. But what do you do with them?
Today I want to share three helpful techniques to help you overcome a bad day.
The first is reframing perspective.
Bad days happen – and they happen to everyone.
Wrong choices get made, failures happen, and people let us down. Leadership is difficult. And not only leadership, but life is difficult. And when you combine life and leadership, you get a lot of difficulties – and a lot of bad days.
John Maxwell says that a leader seldom has two good days in a row. But, unfortunately, if you're in leadership, you probably have experienced many bad days.
And a bad day is just that – it's a bad day. It's not a bad life, and you're not a bad person.
Although it is a bad day, today will come and go, just like other bad days in the past.
Next, I look for the lesson. I start to ask myself some questions like this:
Did this happen to me or FOR me?
What can I learn from this?
Who will this situation allow me to come in contact with that I may not have otherwise met?
What am I still grateful for?
These questions stir a sense of purpose inside of me. These questions allow me to choose what I'll think about – and choices are powerful. So much of our stress and struggles come from feeling helpless to choose.
It's good to remember that when bad days come, you still have choices to make.
Those choices can include:
How will you respond?
What will you choose to reflect on?
How do you want to show up to those around you?
Will you assume the best?
What will your attitude be?
Third, I remember to keep going and growing.
I'll say that again, much of our stress and struggles galvanize our growth -- which makes them worth it. (gasp)
They are worth it because they trigger us to step out of our comfortability and into change.
Napoleon Hill says this: "Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle."
Strength and growth will come as long as you continue to put in the effort through the struggle.
Consider how the marathon runner trains. The struggle to continue running increases their capacity. The resistance from the wind and terrain builds their muscles. And the pain of the journey conditions their endurance.
But the stress and struggle of the training are what help them finish the race.
This is good news -- because even on a bad day, the right mindset can remind you of the good ahead.
Remember -- the coffee beans need to be ground before you can sip the steamy coffee.
And before you can take that first sip of fresh orange juice, the oranges need to be squeezed.
And often, this is symbolic of life. Before we enter some of the sweetest and most refreshing parts of life, we find ourselves pushing through stress and struggle. And those sweet moments we come to appreciate all the more.
Your stress and struggle are building something incredible in you. Embrace them. They are pushing you out of your comfort zone – and outside of your comfort zone is where growth occurs. And although the cost of growth is discomfort, it's worth it.
And as it's helpful, challenge yourself to reframe your perspective, to look for the lesson, and then keep going and growing.
As you GO through this, you will GROW through this – and be stronger because of it.
Here's to having a better day tomorrow!
For your growth,
Bill
