Unfortunately, life isn’t all sunshine and daisies. Here are some great thoughts from some great people for those times when life seems more like a kerfuffle with quicksand than a day at the beach.
“Why worry? If you’ve done the very best you can,
worrying won’t make it any better.”
– Walt Disney
Walt Disney’s quote gets me every time. When things aren’t going well, the automatic human reaction is to begin worrying. However, worrying robs us of our time and energy, and it rarely helps make the situation any better.
It’s difficult to ward off the worry bug, so distraction may be the best tactic. Calling a close friend or reading an uplifting book can help. If you need a quick and complete distraction from the anxiety welling up inside you, cute baby animals often do the trick, unless you’re a true romantic, then maybe try some sappy television wedding scenes to remind you that life is a happy place, most of the time.
*****
“If it’s not exactly like you thought it would be, you think it’s a failure.
What about the spectrum of colors in between.”
– Sara Evans
This quote is a great reminder that nothing is black and white. Plus, the world is just so much prettier when you look at it in all its vibrant colors.
*****
“When you have exhausted all possibilities,
remember this: you haven’t.”
– Thomas Edison
Edison's quote is great for that moment when everything comes crashing down: there is no hope for this situation and it feels like the end of the world. I think we’ve all experienced this feeling, probably more than once, and it is one of the most disheartening things ever.
However, it is a lie, one we fabricate ourselves, and one that we can overcome. It might take a moment or two to come up with a new plan, but rest assured, there is always another way, especially where there’s a will.
*****
“Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame
by an encounter with another human being.”
– Albert Schweitzer
Whether you’re an introvert or not, you probably find healing in the presence of other people. For some of us, it’s our closest friends and family who provide us comfort, and for others, simply sitting in a bustling cafe people watching and making small talk with the staff can uplift our spirits.
If you’re feeling truly down, it might help to reach out to the humans of the world for an instant connection. If you’re not in the mood to be around anyone, reading a good piece of nonfiction can light the fire of human connection without ever saying a word.
*****
“Your friends will believe in your potential,
your enemies will make you live up to it.”
? Tim Fargo
Got some haters on your back? Don’t fret too much: there will always be someone out there who doesn’t think the best of you, no matter who you are. Instead of struggling to make sure everyone likes you, it’s better to put that energy into showing the world that it can’t bring you down.
Take all of the positive vibes from those who believe in you and use them to show those that don’t that they were wrong.
*****
“No matter how bad things are,
you can always make things worse.”
? Randy Pausch
For those with a sense of humor, this quote can be quite uplifting. If you think things can’t get any worse, you’re wrong, every single time. You might lose your job, but at least you’ve still got a roof over your head. You might be fighting with your spouse and your best friend and your boss, but at least you can still call your mom for some kind words and talk therapy.
If you need a quick pick-me-up, Youtube might actually be a good place to go. I’m certainly not advocating laughing at another’s failures, but I will say that a few good chuckles at some unfortunate situations might make light of yours.
*****
“The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it.
Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.”
– Epicetus
Whenever you’re in the midst of something and it seems like too much--when you’re in over your head and feel like you can barely breathe--remember that the most rewarding things in life are often born of the greatest struggles.
Not everything in life should be a trial, but those things that are often end up being worth it when the day is done.
*****
“Prosperity is not without many fears and disasters;
and adversity is not without comforts and hopes.”
– Francis Bacon
In the midst of all that trial and adversity, don’t lose sight of the future, of that light at the end of the tunnel. So much of who we are isn’t defined by how we handle the easy things in life. So much of our character can be defined by the way we get through tough times, and negativity can have a huge impact on that.
Remember that you create your own destiny, and that has as much to do with what you tell yourself as it does with what you tell others. Keep a positive outlook whenever you can.
Even if things don’t come out as well as you’d hoped, your character will escape unscathed, if not stronger and more positive than it was before.
*****
“You need to spend time crawling alone through shadows
to truly appreciate what it is to stand in the sun.”
? Shaun Hick
It’s also important to remember that we often appreciate things more when we work hard for them, when we have to struggle and overcome. That shiny outcome that is your light at the end of the tunnel wouldn’t be so bright if it just fell into your lap one day, and if you do things right, the worst of times don’t even have to be that bad.
And lastly, I leave you with this:
“Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing.”
– L.M. Montgomery
©2017 by AJ Earley. All Rights Reserved.
About the Author
AJ Earley is a personal chef, freelance writer, travel junkie, and root beer float enthusiast from Boise, Idaho... and now, a contributing writer at InnerSelf.com
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