How to Make a Bad Situation Seem Better | The Muslim Blog

This post is about a way you can make a bad situation seem better, and relive some of your pains. Here is the method:

In short, all you are going to do is reflect on the things you have and the blessings of Allah SWT to you. Try to imagine at least one scenario where things could have been worse. This is to help you realize that what you lost could be insignificant compared to what you actually have.

Example 1:
A bad day at school or work gets you down. As you arrive home, you think about how terrible your life is. Suddenly everything seems worthless to you and you fall into a state of grief.

The solution:
Take a pause and think for a second.

• You feel unfortunate because of something that happened at work. Now imagine if you had no work. Visualize it. Think about how your life would be like. 
• You are in a home. Now think about how your life would be like if you had no home.
• Think about your health, your family, all the chances you have been given in life
• Every small and large thing Allah SWT has ever given you
• Realize that while it is unfortunate that you have suffered some problems today at work, if God had willed it, you could have suffered any of a range of other problems at any moment.
• Instead of losing a good day, you could have lost your health, a family member, or your opportunity to work
• So ask yourself: is this the worst that could have happened?

Summary:

Do your best to imagine all the different ways your day could have been worse. Try to go for at least three. Think about how you were protected from all of these things happening. If you had to choose between having a bad day at work and losing a family member, which would you prefer? So is the current situation really the worst that could happen?

Example 2:

Problems with grades have caused you great trouble with teachers and parents. As your grades suffer more and more, you get into more and more trouble outside of academics. It is a vicious cycle and you feel like you hate your life.

The solution:

• First of all, complain about your issue to Allah SWT. Pray to God to alleviate your problems. Open your heart to God and trust that things will be better.
• Then, take a pause to be grateful for everything you have
• Imagine yourself somewhere else. Imagine yourself born into the shoes of another person - with no school, no family, no home. Imagine your life there.
• Imagine all the ways your crisis could have been worse
• Optionally, write down three of these possibilities
• Keep all this in mind and ask yourself honestly: is this the worst that could have happened?
• Ask yourself: is my life really the worst life possible?

Of course, this is not to say that in any situation you will be able to relieve your worries or see the bright side of things. But for some situations, this technique works and will be of great benefit inshallah.

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*I am not a certified psychologist or religious authority, I am simply presenting data which I found from other sources and otherwise, and if something is incorrect in any manner I do not claim it to be correct.

*Disclaimer: The author does not claim to be perfect, and the advice listed on The Muslim Blog or on The Muslim Talk facebook/instagram pages is advice to the author as much as it is to anyone else :)

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