Finding Light in the Clouds

Some days start with sunshine.

Other days… feel like walking through fog.

You know the kind I’m talking about—

where even brushing your teeth feels like an achievement,

and the weight on your chest is heavier than your morning coffee.

We all have them. Bad days. Hard days.

The days that make you want to stay in bed and shut the world out.

For a long time, I used to think I just had to “push through” them.

Force myself to work harder, smile bigger, ignore the heaviness.

But the truth is, pretending you’re okay isn’t the same as being okay.

Over the years, I’ve learned something important:

You can’t control the fact that bad days will come—

but you can choose how you meet them.

And that choice is everything.

Here’s how I keep going, even on the days that feel like they’re trying to stop me.

1. I Start Small — Really Small

On a bad day, I don’t aim for perfection.

I aim for possible.

If I can’t clean the whole kitchen, I’ll wash just one cup.

If I can’t work for hours, I’ll set a timer for 10 minutes.

Sometimes, that tiny step gives me enough momentum to keep going.

And if it doesn’t?

That’s okay. I’ve still done something.

Small victories matter. They remind me that progress is still progress—no matter the size.

2. I Give Myself Permission to Feel

One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned is this:

You don’t have to be “strong” all the time.

Some days, the most courageous thing you can do is sit down,

take a deep breath,

and admit, “This is hard. I’m struggling.”

I let myself cry if I need to.

I journal my thoughts without worrying about how they sound.

I remind myself that feelings are not forever—they pass, like weather.

Bad days lose some of their power when you stop fighting them

and start acknowledging them.

3. I Focus on My “Why”

Motivation isn’t magic—it’s a memory.

On the days when I want to quit, I think about why I started in the first place.

The people I love.

The goals I’ve dreamed about for years.

The version of myself I’m trying to become.

Sometimes I’ll read an old message from a friend,

look at a photo of my family,

or revisit a journal entry where I wrote about my hopes.

When I remember my why,

I remember that this bad day is only one page in my story—

not the whole book.

4. I Practice Gratitude (Even When I Don’t Feel Like It)

When I’m in a bad mood, the last thing I want to do is make a list of blessings.

But that’s usually when I need it the most.

So I start with the smallest things:

• I have a bed to sleep in.

• My hands work.

• My heart is still beating.

As I write, the list grows.

And slowly, the bad day feels a little less dark.

Gratitude doesn’t erase problems—

but it changes the way I see them.

5. I Reach Out to Someone

Sometimes, motivation doesn’t come from inside you.

Sometimes, it comes from the voice of someone who cares.

A quick text to a friend.

A phone call to my mom.

Even a short chat with a co-worker.

I’ve learned that asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom.

We’re not meant to carry everything alone.

6. I Do One Thing That Makes Me Happy

It doesn’t have to be big.

A short walk.

My favorite song on repeat.

A warm shower.

These moments might seem small,

but they remind me that joy is still possible—even in the middle of a hard day.

7. I End the Day with Kindness to Myself

At the end of a bad day, I used to lie in bed and think about everything I didn’t do.

Now, I try to think about one thing I did do—no matter how small.

I tell myself:

You made it through today. That’s enough.

And you know what?

It is.

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Thank you for reading

Best Regards: Habib