How Good are you on a Bad Day?
How good are you when you are having a bad day?
Anyone can be good on a good day. On a good day, when the sun is shining, and the sky is blue, you have lots of cash, all your plans are working, and you are making terrific progress, then it is easy for you to be affable, relaxed, focused and effective.
On a good day, you feel as if you were king of the world and that nothing could stop you from going all the way. On days like that, it is easy for you to find the will, to pour it on. And you produce your best performance.
But how good are you on a bad day? On a bad day, when the sun is not shining, and the day is dark, you have no cash, so you can't pay your bills: None of your plans are working, because other people have messed up, and you are sliding backwards back to square one. Then, it is not so easy for you to be affable, relaxed, focused and effective.
Now there is the opposite tendency, now it is easier for you to feel upset, depressed, dispirited, and down in the dumps.
If you are down in the dumps, now you have double trouble
- First trouble, is the negative situation that you find yourself in.
- Second trouble, is the negative emotional state that you are in: upset, depressed, dispirited, and down in the dumps.
The point is this: When you are facing a hostile situation, now is not the time to become dispirited.
When you are facing a hostile situation, now is the time, to turn on your will power, and get yourself into a good mental, emotional state that will be strong enough to allow you to turn things around.
You can't wait for your circumstances to improve
You can't wait for your circumstances to improve, before you change your emotional state, towards the positive.
You have to change your emotional state towards the positive, in order to improve your circumstances.
In order to turn things around, how can you change your emotional state towards the positive?
Here are the steps
1. Keep your mind on the goal
Don't lose sight of your original goal. Even though you have had setbacks lately, the original goal still stands. Keep reminding yourself what was your original goal.
2. Reduce the problems by focusing on them one at a time
You must avoid the emotion of "overwhelm". You are more likely to feel Overwhelmed whenever you mentally put all your problems into one mental category, and look at them all at once.
Don't do this.
Prioritise your problems; put them in order and take them on, one at a time.
3. Write down six things
Take a piece of paper and write down six things that you can do today that will begin to improve the situation.
Once you have your list, get immediately to work.
- Don't wait
- Don't cry
- Work
The best cure for fear is action.
4. Work your way out of it
Don't turn to drink food or drugs as a means of "managing".
- Do not try to drink yourself out of the mess you're in.
- Do not try to comfort eat your way out of the mess you are in.
- Do not try to make it go away by taking weird drugs.
Work your way out of it.
5. Hang around with optimistic people
Your emotional state is influenced strongly by other people. So don't hang around pessimistic, cynical or negative people. Instead, find the one or two people you know who are more optimistic than the rest, and hang around with them.
Let their positive vibe, rub off on you.
If you can't find anyone who is optimistic, read optimistic books, or watch optimistic films, or you tubes.
Guard your mind.
How good are you on a bad day?
When you are on a bad day, when you are under serious pressure, now is the chance for you to show your quality.
When you are having a bad day, turn on your best personal performance.
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Definition: mental strength
Mental strength is a personal skill that lets you hold a calm, positive mind when life turns hard. You keep sight of your goal, break big troubles into single tasks, act at once instead of hiding, and mix with positive people so their mood lifts yours.
Show CG4D Definition
- Keeps a calm, positive mind during hard times
- Holds clear focus on the main goal
- Turns big problems into single tasks and acts fast
- Seeks support from positive people and avoids harmful habits
Article Summary
Your true strength shows when the day turns dark; stay positive on a bad day by keeping your goal clear, solving one issue at a time, acting at once, skipping quick fixes like drink or junk, and letting upbeat people lift your mood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.
What should I do first when my day turns bad?
How can I beat overwhelm when problems pile up?
Why does the article suggest writing down six actions?
Does action really beat fear on a tough day?
How can upbeat people influence my mood on a bad day?
Which habits should I avoid when I feel stressed?
How does goal focus build mental strength in hard times?
Thought of something that's not been answered? Ask Us Today!
Did You Know: Key Statistics
UK HSE data shows 49% of all work days lost in 2022-23 were due to stress or low mood. Gallup’s 2024 global work study finds staff who feel able to handle stress are 57% less likely to burn out.About the Author: Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.
Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.
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Further Reading in Personal Effectiveness
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How to Handle a Crisis Situation
Master crisis management with a clear six-step cycle: get facts, rank them, set moral goals, plan, act and refine to stay calm, limit damage and recover faster.
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How good are you on a bad day?
Learn how to stay positive on a bad day with five clear steps: hold your goal, break tasks down, act fast, avoid numbing habits and lean on upbeat people.
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The Importance of Resilience
Learn how resilience training turns stress into growth. Discover simple skills that help you bounce back, boost work output and unite teams during change.
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