You have had them before. Songs have been written about them. So have books. They have been the subject of many a movie as well. Bad days. Here are seven ways to ensure your day is a bad one.
- Carry yesterday’s hurts and failures.
If yesterday was a bad day, let those problems and pains continue. Make no effort to heal or let go. Don’t work through grief and loss. Don’t forgive others—continue to allow others to hurt you. Don’t practice self-compassion—continue to allow your past mistakes to define you.
- Worry about tomorrow.
Know that tomorrow is going to be full of challenges and problems. So start worrying. Give your best time and energy to fretting and stewing over what may or may not happen. Be bothered enough so that you are completely oblivious to any joy or happiness that might be going on right around you or in you.
- Try to please everybody.
Believe it is possible to please all people all the time. Don’t ever tell people “no”. Allow other people’s priorities to become your priorities. Base your self-worth on what other, flawed people think of you. Work tirelessly and endlessly to earn their approval. When you fail, let other people’s negative feedback ruin you.
- Compare yourself to others.
Create in your mind a clear picture of who others are and what they have. Then believe your estimation of that person is accurate. After that, let jealousy and envy consume you. Don’t be happy for others—their successes and abundance. Be bitter that somebody is better than you and has more than you. Forget about the daily progress you are making and just be in a constant state of realizing that others have it better than you.
- Complain a lot.
Nitpick. Be a fault-finder. Verbalize your entitlement to everybody you encounter. While you are at it, don’t encourage people. Don’t practice gratitude. Take things and people for granted. Be negative. Expect the worst.
- Expect perfection from yourself and others.
Perfection is amazing when it happens. So keep shooting for it and expect the same from others. Keep telling yourself the blue ribbon, the gold medal, the A+, the promotion, and the verbal praise, and the occasional pat on the back are with the stress, anxiety, and disappointment that will be your constant companions when you expect perfection from yourself and others.
- Neglect your relationship with God.
God is the one who gives (1) fresh starts, (2) hope, (3) significance, (4) abundance, (5) encouragement, and (6) grace. All these things are from God and make your days better, if not amazing. Neglecting God is the single best way to avoid these gifts and will keep you limping and struggling throughout your days. So don’t pray. Don’t engage with Scripture. Don’t be part of a small community of others who are committed to see you flourish. Don’t worship. Don’t serve. Just keep doing numbers one through six and know that more bad days are on the way.
