What to do when everything’s gone wrong

ILLUSTRATION: SUSANNA GENTILI

It’s the sort of day when the washing machine breaks, you’re undeservedly reprimanded by your boss, you miss the train home and your friend cancels those plans you were so excited about. All within the space of a miserable 24 hours. Perhaps brimming with anger, sadness and a general sense of hopelessness, the only thing you want to do is call time on the whole sorry situation and collapse into bed while your faulty kitchen appliance leaks water across the floor. You’d be fully within your rights to do just that. But there are other approaches worth considering.

Reframe: Let’s rewind to the moment the day began heading south – the washing machine is making a strange noise and your friend has texted: ‘Um. About tonight…’ The reality is that, on some occasions, when one domino falls, more follow. There’s no preventing or controlling the quick succession of events. But there might be other times when just one bad aspect of your day colours your perception of numerous successes. If possible, remain observant of these high points when they occur, regardless of their significance in the bigger picture. When your car doesn’t start, but a colleague offers you a lift, that’s a win. When the tickets to that show you wanted to see are sold out, but there’s a table at your favourite café, take the opportunity to turn a disappointing situation on its head. Claim small victories.