What You Should Do When You Are Feeling Discouraged

Have you ever had one of those days when the weight of the world feels like it’s trying to drag you down? Have you felt overwhelmed and discouraged by the challenges you face?

While there’s no magic bullet solution that will make those feelings disappear, there are a number of things you can do to keep those feelings of discouragement to a minimum. Here they are:

Understand That It’s Not You

Or, more precisely, it’s not just you, and there is at least some comfort in the knowledge that no matter how bad or down you’re feeling, you’re certainly not the only one. This isn’t the same as delighting in the misery of others. This is merely an acknowledgement that you’re not the only person on the planet who’s feeling it.

It’s Normal

Sometimes, all it takes to start feeling better about things is to simply allow yourself to feel them, and admit that it’s okay to do so. It’s normal. Not every day is going to be full of sunshine and rainbows. Some days are going to be hard, and that’s okay.

It’s Only Temporary

Building on the last point, it’s extremely important to remind yourself that no matter hard things are and no matter how discouraged you feel right this second, it won’t last forever. It’s only temporary, and you will get through it.

In fact, oftentimes, the only thing to be done is to identify what specific things are making you feel that way, and rather than trying to go around them, simply go through them. Plow ahead, slowly and relentlessly, and you’ll get there. The wheel will turn, and things will get easier.

Things Could Be Worse

This one’s not quite the opposite of understanding that you’re not the only one, but it’s close. In this case, it’s more about acknowledging that whatever has you feeling discouraged, it’s almost certainly not the dreaded worst case scenario. Sure, it’s frustrating, but it’s not as bad as it could be, and that understanding almost always brings with it a ray of hope, and a bit of renewed determination that helps carry you through!