How to Turn a Bad Day Around: Mindset Shifts for Self-Compassion
We all have bad days.
It’s part of being human. But part of me still thinks, “Yeah, but maybe it is my fault. Maybe I’m doing something wrong. Maybe I caused this or could have prevented it…”
After several great weeks, I woke up this morning feeling the ick, and I wasn’t excited about it. I tried to record a video about it but got annoyed as hell with myself in the process. I spent a good 30 minutes journaling, trying to coach myself (which is SO hard to do when I’m in the thick of it). UGH!
And since I’m a life coach, I try really hard to use my own life and struggles to experiment with different approaches, techniques, and all that jazz. It’s super effective in helping me come up with new ways to help my clients navigate their stuff, but not always so effective for me (objectivity being what it is).
As I tried to coach myself through my miserable morning, I settled on, “You know what? Bad days happen. Of course they do. Maybe, subconsciously, there’s a part of me that thinks if I did all the right things, I wouldn’t have bad days. But intellectually, I know that isn’t true.” I was able to slightly shift my mood, but not much. So, I put my notebook away with an “eh, fuck it” kind of mood.
I went along with my normal morning routine of cleaning my house for 15 minutes while listening to 80s music. (Crazy, but this little part of my routine has shifted MANY bad moods. If Electric Avenue won’t do it, I know the ick will be around for a while.) And it helped a little this morning.
Then I got a message from a client who was also having a really bad morning. I listened as she unloaded what she was going through. Because I was in the same trench, I could really relate to her struggle! Since I was able to see her situation objectively, I was able to help her quickly.
I responded with something like:
“Yes, it sounds like you’re having a hard morning, and it’s completely understandable considering everything you’re going through. AND you’re going to be okay. This isn’t the first bad day you’ve had, and it certainly won’t be the last. Having a bad day isn’t even the problem. Who you become on bad days is what matters most. If you internalize a bad day and beat yourself up, that’s the actual problem. But if you double down on having your own back and supporting yourself, then those days aren’t so bad after all. Bad days are an invitation to show up and support yourself the way you would if someone you loved was having a hard day.”
And then it clicked for me too. (Hey, fun little fringe benefit of being a coach!)
Imagine this:
Your friend calls: “Hey, I’m really struggling today.”
You: “Well, have you ever wondered if you’re the problem?! You are way behind where you should be right now! You should have worked harder yesterday (or not as hard), maybe you’re too sensitive, maybe you have no clue what you’re doing with your life. Maybe if you had followed through with 75 Hard last year like you said you would, this wouldn’t be happening. Ugh, you’re always going to be lazy. Something is definitely wrong with you!”
😂 We wouldn’t have many friends.
Why wouldn’t you want to support yourself the same way you would a good friend on a bad day? Powerful to consider.
Who do you become when you have a hard day?
Who do you want to become when you have a hard day?
How can you practice showing up more like her next time you have a bad day?
If you’re curious, I decided to tackle my morning routines as planned (those are super intentional, and I always have a bad day version of them thanks to fluctuating hormones). Yes, bad days are a normal part of life AND I think my hormones are partly to blame as well, so I asked ChatGPT for some tips to help me navigate my luteal phase (IYKYK).
So, I’m drinking 4 different types of herbal tea as I type this out, I’m getting ready to do hormone-balancing yoga (who knew that was a thing?), and then I’m going to meet myself where I am throughout the day and do the best I can. I’m super thankful that I have a float tank session scheduled this afternoon and am looking forward to that.
So if you’re in the trenches with me and my client, I really hope you found something useful here. And if you’re not having a bad day, high-five, go make the most of it! And save this so you can reference it the next time you have a bad day.
Best,
Machele
P.S. If bad days are starting to pile up or you’re finding it hard to navigate them alone, I’d love to help. I offer free consultations where we can dive into what’s going on for you and explore how you can become the version of yourself that drops into self-compassion when she’s having a hard day. Click here to schedule a consult. Let’s figure this out together!
Machele Galloway, a certified life coach, former hot mess, and lover of all things self-development. Machele coaches on many aspects of life and business, focusing on gaining a deep understanding of who you are—your challenges, strengths, and goals. She guides you to become the version of yourself that creates a life you are obsessed with living. Rather than telling you how to live, Machele helps you discover those answers within yourself and teaches you the tools to implement meaningful changes that actually stick. Evidence of her ability to transform lives is reflected in her 5-star rating on Google, where clients rave about her ability to provide clarity, make personal growth fun and approachable, and deliver real, lasting results. Her approach is super fun, unique, and unlike anything else on the market. With over 20 years of experience studying human behavior, 4,000+ hours coaching women, and 5 years running a full time coaching practice, Machele keeps things simple, effective, and, most importantly, enjoyable. As a client, you benefit from her wealth of knowledge and dedication to continuous learning. She’s all about making growth accessible and impactful—while keeping it fun. If you’re curious about working with her, you can book a Zoom consultation HERE, and no worries, this isn’t a high-pressure sales session, this is all about you gaining a new perspective about your circumstances and even if you don’t end up working together, you’ll leave that call with a few actionable insights that you can implement right away. If not now, when?
