Life has you down?
Things could be worse
So what?
What does it mean when people say “it could be worse”? This phrase is used to give reassurance to a person going through challenging circumstances in their life. The intent is to remind the person that things could be worse even though they are aggregated and/or irritated. This post is not about whether it’s okay to say “it could be worse” to someone but rather the benefits of the thinking behind the phrase.
In touch with reality
Being in touch with reality means that you are mindful and aware of your presence and surroundings. Our sense of reality not only provides us with accurate information, it gives us certainty and confidence of what is happening around us. It makes you feel better and less doubtful of situations and circumstances. It’s a sanity check on reality. Take this time to perform bug fixes and improve functionalities that are not working as expected. Sanity checks save time and effort as it gives you a touch point on identifying missing components and areas of improvement.
Opens door to optimism
One of the two ways that you can end up by thinking that things could be worse is being optimistic about life. Believing that your life could be worse can lead to seeing the bright side of the challenging circumstances that you are facing. You can guide yourself to be optimistic by reminding yourself that setbacks and challenges are temporary and not blaming yourself when things go wrong. Stay tuned for a post on why optimism can be good for you.
My experience
My better half and I remind each other that “it could be worse” when life happens and things get challenging. Our lives are in constant flux of ups and downs. When things go south, the phrase reminds us that what is happening can be worse and there will be better days ahead. We use it as a speed bump to slow down and reflect on what is happening to and around us.
What now?
- Do you have any “go-to” strategies on dealing with the inevitable consequences of life? Share with us what they’re. We would love to hear from you.
- Stay tuned for next week’s post on common pitfalls to avoid with thinking that things could be worse.