4 Ways to Make Something Good Out of Bad
This page may contain affiliate links. Please refer to the Privacy Policy for more information.
I am sure that most everyone has heard the phrase, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade”. If only life were as easy as adding some sugar and water to some fresh squeezed lemon juice. Unfortunately, life can be down right hard sometimes and can throw things at us that sets our lives spinning. It is much easier to sit back, go on auto-pilot and be angry or depressed. It is much harder to look for ways to make something good come out of it.
Through my illness, I have learned that you have to carve something good out of that bad. It has taken me over 2 years of being basically homebound to understand that. It is not easy to do because it isn’t really an action as much as it is a mindset.
I learned that no matter how hard it is, stop mourning what was and what could have been. Doing that is the most destructive thing I have done to myself. This action did more harm to my life than my Chronic Migraines ever did. I realized it had become a habit and breaking it was very hard. I had to replace the bad habit with a good one. It didn’t come easily or quickly and I had weak moments a lot.
There is no magic formula to turning things around and what works for one person might not work for another. I tried several different things but found that Blogging was the perfect outlet for me. Through my blog, it is my hope to turn my struggles into a blessing for others. I want my story to help people who are struggling.
What will work for you? To figure that part out you must first figure out what your goal is. After that is done just start trying things to see what works for you. Below are a few ideas to get you started.
4 Ways to Make Something Good out of Bad:
- Back up negative thoughts with positive thoughts. Every time you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts, write down a positive counter to it. Read the list every night and watch the list get longer as the week progresses.
- Start a new hobby. This sounds so cliché but starting something new brings excitement into life. The planning, preparing and action of something new can break the monotony of a bad situation or circumstance.
- Keep moving! Possibly the most important one! No matter how bad it gets, absolutely never stop trying. Today you might be doing good to put one foot in front of the other and that is ok. The battle may seem too hard…keep going because tomorrow or a week from now it might be a little better. Live life for the possibilities if that is all you have today because tomorrow may bring something tangible to hold on to. This is an attitude not an necessarily an action!
- Help others. I realize that you are probably thinking, “but right now I am barely holding on for myself”. Helping others will bring you strength. Do you know someone that is also struggling? Help them. This doesn’t have to be elaborate! I am not telling you to buy your neighbor a new car because his broke down last night! Think about what you need and give that to others. Do you wish someone would call because you are isolated? Call someone that is isolated…you both win!
I realize that putting these things into action can be difficult to do. Each one of these items will require a conscious effort in order to do them. But it is much better to change emotions intentionally than to allow your emotions to override your quality of life.
Conclusion:
Whatever challenges or battles we are facing, remember that they all can serve a purpose that will allow us to grow.
Have you decided how you are going to try to turn something “bad” into something “good”?
Similar Posts:
The Dangers and Possibilities of Looking Back
5 Things You Shouldn’t Say to Yourself
14 Comments
Maddy Finch
Great blog post! I love the comment you made about helping others and giving back to people yourself! ❤️
Jen Cannon
Thank you!
Michelle
I find that helping others is one of the best ways! Something about doing a kindness for someone that makes you feel good about yourself and turns your whole outlook around. 🙂
Jen Cannon
Yes it does! It also changes our focus from ourselves to something else.
Thank you for the comment!
joy
such a great tips
new follower here, loking to see you back in my blogs
Ariana
Number 4 resonates with me on so many levels. Before I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I was just at the start of my med surg clinical. Doing clinical helped me to cope on so many levels, it gave me purpose to shove the negative thoughts aside and spread positivity for not only my sake, but my patients as well. One of the things I loved most about nursing school was giving back and helping those who needed support.
Jen Cannon
Giving to others changes you whole perspective. It takes the focus off of ourselves.
Tasha M
Hey, I’ve nominated you for the Liebster Award. Thank you for being awesome and using your blog to help people!
I’ve tagged your blog in my post at https://wp.me/p72BkW-ch
Tasha M 😃
Bexa
These are excellent suggestions Jen. I especially agree with helping others as it can take your mind off your situation. Making another person happy is such a good mood booster. Thank you for sharing! 💖 xx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
Jen Cannon
Thank you!
Alys George
Starting a new hobby one of the main reasons I took up blogging, it gave me another focus in life and turned a negative into a positive.
These are some great tips, I really hope people read this and see how they can make small changes to their lives, but make big impacts at the same time.
Jen Cannon
Thank you for stopping by and commenting. Yes, sometwe feel like the changes have to be earth shattering but honestly, small change can have enormous impact.
Janita
You nailed it with the “help others!” It really does make life better knowing you’re helping someone else! This was a great read, thank you for sharing! 😊
Jen Cannon
Thank you. So happy you enjoyed reading it.