When things look a little bleak, is there one thing you can do to make today better than yesterday?

Photo by engin akyurt

Often, when we face a setback, it's tempting to wish we could go back to the way things were before everything changed, to see if we could have done anything to change the course of events. If for example, you have just been told you didn’t qualify for a promotion, it can be really challenging to just show up the following day and act as if nothing had happened. If you have ever had a terrible or disappointing day and you just wish you could wipe the slate clean and start again, this article is for you.

Take the new day as a fresh opportunity
Yes, yesterday may have been one of the worst days of your life but there are a few things that you could keep in mind while treating a new day as a fresh opportunity:

• Yesterday is now in the past, no one can change it. All you can do is decide how to proceed from this point onwards. Accepting that the past can not be changed is what starts you moving forward and bouncing back.
• Be gentle with yourself. In treating the new day as a fresh start, you need forgive yourself if you feel that something you did or didn't do contributed to what happened. Everyone makes mistakes. It’s part of the human condition but that doesn't have to define us. What you do to address those mistakes is much more important and that is where your focus needs to be. 
• Watch the way you speak to yourself. Is there a voice that reminds you of all the things that you could/should have done differently? Would you let anyone else speak to you like that? It's time to treat yourself like a friend and offer comfort, not condemnation. 
• Considering your options for the future - whats the best thing you can do from where you are right now? Are there things that you can do straight away that will pave the way for the outcomes that you are looking for?  

​Life is full of ups and downs. It's unavoidable. Treating every day as a fresh start will certainly help you bounce back from whatever challenges life gives you.