How To Stay Positive During Your Worst Days
It Might Be The Best Thing That Ever Happened To You
This article goes out to the graduating class of 2020 going out into this crazy new world and those who might feel lost, uncertain, or just don’t know where to start.
I, myself, have officially and virtually graduated today. It feels weird and definitely bittersweet. My parents were supposed to fly across the Atlantic to watch me pick up that long-awaited diploma, meet all my friends, and celebrate.
It’s tough. It’s not easy and I know how you are feeling. But what if the pandemic might be the best thing that ever happened to you?
Of course I’d love to be throwing my cap into the sky, but just hear me out.
You can rewrite your reality
As simple and cheesy as it sounds, the glass is either half full or half empty. Everything remains the same except your perception of it.
You are in control. You decide how to perceive and feel about the things around you. You can stop your thoughts from negatively influencing your feelings.
You have the power to stay optimistic by rewriting your reality.
Rewrite your reality by considering a few helpful alternatives to your current perspective. Find a few different ways of viewing the situation positively. Ask yourself, “What if this experience is a good thing for me?”
For example, you can think about how graduating in 2020 will not only make you fearless and grow but also stand out in a future job interview. Having a graduation ceremony is mainstream anyways. Graduating in the middle of a freaking global pandemic is badass.
Be creative and let your mind wander. Take a moment to think about it.
You can try and learn something new
Maybe you want to just take this time to be lazy and relax, which is perfectly fine. But perhaps there’s something you’ve always wanted to do or try and you’ve just kept postponing it for another day.
I get it. Dealing with a pandemic is tough. You’re not motivated, you’re tired of being home or binge-watching Netflix is just so much easier. But just ask yourself:
How would you feel if you didn’t use this opportunity now that you have the chance?
This pandemic might be a blessing, an opportunity of a lifetime to finally create that blog, learn a new language, reach out to old friends, etc. Glass half full, remember?
Don’t blame things that are out of your control and instead, write down a list of all the things you can come up with or you’re curious about. It can literally be anything. Keep it simple.
Then, pick the most important ones, the ones you’re most passionate about and set up a system to keep yourself accountable. You can use a checklist or have that list as your background screen on your phone (that’s what I do).
Start with simple tasks that will slowly build up momentum. The feeling of accomplishment will not only keep you motivated but also make you feel good about yourself, especially in times when it’s hard to even know what day of the week it is.
You can reinvent yourself (advanced level)
If you can feel the momentum and rewire your brain to see opportunities instead of obstacles, why not think a little bigger? Why not dream a little, level up or take your life into a new direction?
When you think huge, you work for huge. But in order to do that, you have to open your mind and believe huge is possible. Your mindset is the first step to any success.
Having something to look forward to, especially in these times, is healthy and extremely exciting. The good news — you’ve already learned to control your mindset.
Right now, you could be applying for your dream job, embarking on your own entrepreneurial journey, getting in the shape of your life — just go for it.
The majority of people tell you to reach for the clouds but if you reach for the clouds, you will go no higher than the clouds. That’s why you should reach for the stars because if you reach for the stars and miss, at least you’ll grab the clouds.
Even if you fail along the way, that’s a sign of progress. Failing is good. You’re moving towards your goals, which is better than sitting on your ass.
Failure is part of the journey. Failure might be losing a battle. Defeat, however, is giving up and losing the war. It’s up to you.
With every failure comes an opportunity for growth. Life is full of challenges that can either bring you down or make you stronger. Having something to strive for in these difficult times is already a huge accomplishment.
If you want to reach your goals, you have to fully embrace change and failure. Every failure will bring you one step closer to success if you don’t let it bring you down.
Most importantly, enjoy the journey and don’t let anyone fool you. Don’t let anyone tell you what’s possible. So many people talk and share their dreams like they had already accomplished them, which has created skepticism towards the real dreamers. But every success story starts with a dream and the drive to overcome any challenge.
As you progress, you will get comfortable with your defeats. The things that were so hard before are slowly going to feel easier and easier until it becomes second nature.
Dream, take action, fail, learn and grow over and over until success will become inevitable. Don’t blame the things that are out of your control and always look at what’s possible.
You have the power to rewrite your reality and see the glass half full. You have the power to shoot for the stars. You can do it!
Class of 2020. I know how tough these past months have been and how bitter it is to transition into adulthood this way. Stay strong and don’t give up. There are so many positive things to look forward to. If you feel slightly encouraged and empowered, I have accomplished my goal. You deserve all the best.
Remember to celebrate the little successes along the way. Don’t be too harsh on yourself and enjoy the ride. These are mad times so every sign of progress is something worth celebrating.
And most importantly, be grateful. Today was one of the memorable days of my life. Even though it was the 50th consecutive dinner in a row with my family, the celebration and surprises they gave me were so incredibly meaningful.
Sometimes the most special things we have are right in front of us. It’s the little things that matter. Let’s treasure those and celebrate life.
Congratulations Class of 2020. Shoutout to Indiana University for the best four years of my life.
Bonus video (highly recommend):
