How to Embrace Your Bad Days and Boost Your Resilience

The silver linings to transform the worst of days

It’s one of those days.

The alarm doesn’t go off, the coffee machine breaks and your car won’t start… and it’s not even 8 am yet. You’re off to a great start and dreading the day ahead.

But as much as you hate them, you can never avoid bad days. They’re part of life. But isn’t there something slightly comforting in knowing everyone has them? (Especially your worst enemy)

What if your bad days had a purpose? What if these trials and tribulations were stepping stones, helping you to become more resilient? What if you didn’t avoid bad days but embraced them?

This article will discuss why your bad days are good for you and how they strengthen you. Ready to flip the script?

The Basics of Resilience

Picture a rubber band. Now, stretch, pull, and twist it. Does it ever break? Chances are no unless you cut it. That’s because rubber bands are resilient — they always snap back to their original shape.

Resilience is your ability to bounce back from life’s adversities. It’s your ability to regain shape after being stretched and pulled by life.

Picture two individuals who face the same challenging situation: one crumbles while the other adapts, learns, and grows stronger. That’s resilience in action, turning a stumbling block into a stepping stone.

You stretch your rubber band and strengthen your resilience whenever you face a bad day.

Understanding Your Emotional Response to Bad Days

Whenever you have a bad day, you may be inclined to react. You might do any one, or more, of the following:

Become angry
Shame eat in private
Withdraw into your shell
Bury yourself in a blanket of sadness

These are natural responses but often make the situation worse.

That’s where self-awareness and emotional intelligence come into play. It’s about recognizing your emotions without judgment, understanding why you feel that way, and then managing your reaction.

It’s not about suppressing your feelings but controlling how you react.

Practical Strategies to Boost Resilience

Controlling your reactions sounds simple enough, right? So, how can you show your resilience and embrace the bad days?

Here are some strategies:

Shift your mindset by reframing negative thoughts. Think of a bad day as a puzzle, not a roadblock. It’s challenging, sure, but it’s also an opportunity to learn and grow. See the difference?
Be your own best friend and practice self-compassion. Would you berate your friend for having a bad day or offer words of comfort? Treat yourself with the same kindness.
Develop a growth mindset. Instead of thinking, “I can’t handle this,” try thinking, “I can’t handle this… yet”. Adding that little word at the end makes a world of difference, doesn’t it?
Cultivate a strong support network. We thrive on connection. Don’t hesitate to lean on your friends, family, or even a professional when the going gets tough. Remember, asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Embrace mindfulness and meditation. Ever tried focusing on your breath when you’re stressed? It’s surprisingly calming. Mindfulness brings us back to the present moment, away from our worries about the past or future.
Seek opportunities for personal growth and learning. Bad days often come with lessons. It’s just a matter of looking for them. What can this situation teach you? How can it help you grow?
Engage in physical activity and self-care. Ever heard of “runner’s high”? Physical activity releases endorphins, your body’s natural mood lifters. And don’t forget to pamper yourself too. A warm bath, a good book, or even a nap can improve your mood.

Flipping Bad Days on Their Head

Just because something bad happened doesn’t mean you must have a bad day. Sometimes, you can flip the situation and reverse the direction. Here’s how you might do that.

Find humor in difficult situations. You would think that death is no joking matter. But after our dad died, my sister and I felt better by making dead dad jokes. You have to be able to find the light in dark situations.

Seek inspiration from role models or stories of overcoming adversity. Everybody on the planet has had to go through some form of adversity. Find others who have had similar experiences or have stories that inspire you.

Embrace “post-traumatic growth.” As much as it sucks, going through adversity leads to growth. It doesn’t mean you want to go through setbacks, but you inevitably will. It’s about finding a silver lining in the storm clouds, turning setbacks into comebacks.

Utilize creative outlets. Expressing our feelings through art, writing, music, or any other creative outlet can be therapeutic. It’s like letting out a deep breath you didn’t know you were holding.

Turning the Page on Bad Days

If you’ve made it this far, it’s clear you’re ready for a change. Maybe you’re sitting there thinking, “Man, this resilience thing sounds like hard work.” And you know what? You’re right. It is. But remember, anything worthwhile takes effort, and you’re more than capable.

In the end, bad days teach you:

Where you need to grow
How to become stronger
Test and build your resilience

That’s the silver lining. Now, you can embrace bad days with all the tools and strategies at your disposal. You’ll still have bad days. You’re not invincible. But you’ll bounce back every time.

Next time you have a bad day, you can appreciate it for what it is. It’s just a day, not your life.

Embrace it. Learn from it. Grow from it. Because with each bad day you overcome, you’re becoming a more resilient version of yourself. And let’s be honest, doesn’t that sound like a pretty amazing person to be?

Ready to level yourself up and become the best version of yourself? Download my free journaling guide now.

Maggie Kelly is a freelance writer who writes about mental health, self-help, and psychology. Contact at maggiepkelly@gmail.com