Bad days are inevitable. Just the other morning, I woke up grouchy. No idea why. I guess I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Days like this are bound to happen at times. Exhaustion, overstimulation, and those internal demons eventually get to us and wear us down. When we have that weak spot in our hearts, it opens the door for more negativity, including poor choices, which have consequences.
Even the smallest ugly thought can allow the demons to slip in. That’s why I amp up these three habits when I feel myself getting weaker. Sometimes they work right away, sometimes it takes a little more patience. Consistency is key.
1. Let go
God is our first line of defense against the darkness. Pray and surrender to Him. Let Him take away your anxiety, fear, and negative thoughts. This isn’t always easy, especially when it feels good to give in to the darkness brewing in your mind. I know, it’s easier said than done. Who wants to fight a mental battle when everything seems to be spiraling downhill? But that’s the beauty of Jesus. If you give it to God, He will fight for you.
The more you talk to God and invite Him into your heart, the less space for negativity. Try to keep Him in the forefront of your mind in what you say, what you do, and what you think. This is something we should practice every day, but it isn’t always easy when we get caught up in the daily motions of life. But especially on bad day, pray and talk to God. Resist the temptations of the devil and let God’s light outshine the darkness.
When I feel myself losing control of the ugly thoughts, I ask God to take over. I tell Satan to get out of my life. He’s not welcome in my life in any form. If I give in to the darkness, it affects not only me but everyone around me, and they don’t deserve to reap the consequences of my internal struggles.
2. Focus on your blessings
Shift your thoughts from negative to positive. Think of all the good in your life. God gave you another day; that in itself is a blessing. Think about your loved ones and cherish the memories you’ve been able to make with them. Think about the memories you will make with them. Don’t let the devil steal this day from you.
If something happened that made this an awful day for you, try to focus on everything that went right and try to see all the smaller blessings. There are so many things to be thankful for in life. If you slow down and take time to be grateful, you’ll see the endless number of blessings God has bestowed upon you. When you open yourself to receive the blessings, you won’t have time for negativity, you’ll be too busy praising God.
3. Take a break
If you feel like you’re suffocating under the weight of your struggles, one of the best things you can do is get space. Put distance between you and whatever is getting you down. Sometimes we need to calmly walk away and splash some cold water on our faces, letting that frustration and anger disappear down the drain before coming back to things with a clear mind.
Listen to music that soothes you and brings you comfort. Or if you can, sleep. Take a nap or just close your eyes for several minutes as you talk to God. Allow Him to be the calm in the storm.
Sometimes we need to exert that negative energy within us. There are so many ways we can do this productively. For example, chop wood or go for a run. Or invest your mental energy into something other than your thoughts, like your Bible or another book.
Whatever you do to settle down, do not give in to the temptations. Don’t break things or yell or swear. These negative actions only pull you down farther and make it harder to get back up.
God knows our hearts. He knows when we’re struggling, and if we let Him, He will carry us through our trials and tribulations. Prayer is powerful. Invite positive energy and push aside the negative. If you’re too tired to fight, give it to God.