(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Mohamad Kadry on why we should learn to balance the good times in life with the bad
One of my favourite books growing up was Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day (it was recently adapted to film which I don’t plan on watching). It contained an important lesson for me in knowing that as bad as things seem there was always going to be someone dealing with far worse.
Adulthood has a way of amplifying our bad days when the biggest problem is not whether the school cafeteria is serving pizza but rather how the access card to our building has mysteriously been deactivated or why the bank is deciding to inundate our morning with a half dozen calls. Grown-up problems are real and frustrating and can sometimes make you feel like throwing a child-like tantrum.
Bad days are not specific to Dubai but they certainly can feel magnified here. Whether they’re caused by rubberneckers on Sheikh Zayed Rd. that take pleasure in bringing traffic to a standstill the never-ending queue to refuel at the petrol station or even something as simple as the grocery running out of milk. An accumulation of these things can turn anyone’s bright day into a gloomy one.
Just as infectious as negative people can be with their energy the same holds true for those who always try to see the brighter side of things. There are people who seem to stumble over the most minor of annoyances and others that face the oncoming train of life with resiliency.
So what’s the best way to deal with a bad day For starters it’s important to acknowledge that bad days are usually the invention of the mind. When you’re bombarded with a lot of bad news and disappointment all at once it’s easy (and normal) to feel overwhelmed. But it helps to put things in perspective.
Sure it’s frustrating when you realise your Nol card has just expired and you face a long rush-hour queue to top up or that your DEWA bill got lost in the post but life is about taking things in stride.
Most of our so-called bad days are just the result of bad timing and that’s something none of us can control. But taking a long step back and assessing the situation in a calm and logical manner can help one avoid hysteria and stress. The only person you can control is yourself and that control can be a powerful weapon.
While the phrase “first world problems” may be over-used around here it’s relevant in the greater context of life. It’s always good to remember that there are real people with real problems out there and suffering through our own disappointments can be a reminder of how lucky and blessed we are.
Bad days are inevitable and even important but “this too shall pass” is usually an accurate estimation. Author Paulo Coelho once wrote: “If you want to see a rainbow you have to learn to see the rain.”
Life always provides a balance and carrying that with us can make those bad days seem a lot less stressful and important.