When the Universe Effin’ Hates You

Do you ever have a week when everything goes wrong? You pull a muscle, you get into a silly argument with a friend, your air-conditioner breaks down, you find ants in your kitchen, you hate the color you painted your porch, you find a hole in your favorite shirt and suddenly you’re throwing your hands up in the air asking the Universe with tears running down your face, why it hates you because things like this shouldn’t go wrong all at once and WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?

Last week was one of those weeks and it really got me down. It pushed me to that cliff of despair called depression and it encouraged me to slide down. Rationally I knew that all the stuff going wrong wasn’t life changing stuff, it was the little things that were getting to me, but when it all happens at once it’s hard to see the big picture.

I needed the reminder: Don’t sweat the small stuff. 

So I made a little list of the things I try to remember when I feel like the Universe is being the big bully on the playground. It helped me get some perspective so maybe it will help you!

I get knocked down, but I get up again.

You’re never gonna get me down. Go to youtube type in Chumbawamba and sing the song at the top of your lungs. It’ll make you feel better. Plus it will remind you that worse things have happened to you and that you got through that too, maybe not gracefully, but you got through it. So even if life is knocking you down and you’re taking a few punches to the face, you’re not down for the count.
If that fails look at pictures of 43 people who are having worse days then you are.

Know that most things are fixable.

So you painted your porch a hideous color, no biggie, you can re-paint it something better. You argued with a friend but good communication is key and pulled muscles generally heal after some rest. Don’t sweat the things that can be fixed, get focused and motivated and instead of giving up in despair, go and fix those things that need fixing and make peace with the things you’re stuck dealing with.

Take a deep breath.

Yeah I know, everyone gives this advice about essentially everything but have you legit tried it? I’m not talking about sitting there on your phone or in your computer chair and taking a deep breath right this second. I’m talking about taking an epic breath. I’m talking go get a cushion, take it outside, leave your phone in the house, sit in the sunlight, close your eyes and breathe. Shut off the lights in your room before bed, light a candle and some incense, put on relaxing music and breathe. Do those other things that make you feel better and relieve stress.

Be grateful. 

I know, telling yourself how much worse things could be just so you’re grateful that things aren’t that bad is a little twisted but it helps you gain perspective, which is something that you probably need when the little things are getting to you. Going through a mental list of all of the things that are going right in your life can be a reminder that no, not everything sucks and when you’re feeling down that’s a great reminder to have. It can stop the spiral.

Give into the misery.

If all else fails and you haven’t managed to cheer yourself up it’s totally okay to go get a tub of ice cream, the Netflix remote, and a comfy blanket to drown your sorrows in. There’s nothing wrong with having a bad day or a bad week and just letting it run its course. You don’t have to be positive all of the time. You aren’t failing at life if you aren’t happy or you have a bad day. Embrace the sad because you know eventually things will get better.

This is a reminder for myself (and for you) not to let the little things get you down. Every little thing is gonna be alright!

What things do you do to deal with a minor series of tiny catastrophes?