You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t occasionally have a day, week or even month of wondering, “What else could possibly go wrong!?” For me, this past month has been one of those rough patches. Between my fridge and freezer breaking down, my permanent retainer snapping, and catching a cold twice in the run of a few weeks (just to name a few), I found myself starting to get worn down by all of the negative things being thrown my way. As students, it’s easy to dwell on all of the unfortunate things that may be happening during the craziest times of year. You’re not alone on that feeling, I’m right there with you! To get through these rough patches together, here are a few ideas on how to stay positive when it’s really easy to start thinking negatively.
Look at the Big Picture
The fact of the matter is that negative events are bound to come our way from time-to-time. It’s also a fact that it tends to be much easier to focus on the few things that are going wrong, rather than all of the things that are going right. One of my favourite quotes is, “When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life you have a thousand reasons to smile.” As cliche as this may seem, it’s extremely true. Sure, maybe you didn’t do too well on that last midterm. But you also have the resources and support to be able to attend school in the first place! When you remind yourself of all of the things that you do have, some of our daily challenges can seem much smaller in comparison.
Tackle Your Problems As Soon As They Arise
As I mentioned earlier, my permanent retainer decided it had enough of keeping my teeth straight and snapped on me last week. As much as I knew this would be a pain to fix, I knew solving this problem right away would make me feel much better. Sure, I had to withstand a piece of metal poking me in the mouth for a few days, but I found comfort in the fact that I had an appointment booked and a solution to the problem coming in the near future. As overwhelming as some problems can be, it can be even more bothersome to have them untouched and weighing on your shoulders. To avoid this, do what you can to tackle problems as soon as they arise. Even if they aren’t very pleasant to deal with, you can have confidence in knowing that there isn’t much more you can do beyond being proactive in your problem-solving.
Surround Yourself With Support
I could be having the worst day of my life, and my best friends could still manage to make me laugh in a matter of seconds. Whether it’s calling your mom, visiting a friend, or texting a loved one, surrounding yourself with people who will support you throughout all of your challenges is key in staying positive. Life can have a way of testing us at times, but we don’t have to do it alone!
Above all else, don’t forget to take care of yourself, even in the midst of what may feel like a disaster. Every challenge is only a temporary one, and you’ll come out stronger than ever and ready to take on the next hurdle that may come your way. Even when things get overwhelming, life is still good!