Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
We feel bad when something wrong happens to us – or when we make a mistake. It is also possible that someone criticizes us for how we are – or maybe when we fail to succeed in our endeavors.
In the worst of cases, we feel bad when our family falls apart.
The reasons are plenty for us to feel like this, and ‘YES!’ we often do so and dwell in this feeling for longer than expected.


Every living thing has its ups and downs, so we should not be too hard on ourselves when things make us feel bad.
Many instances are there where you are likely to feel bad, and it’s essential to realize that feelings of sadness, guilt, or shame are normal reactions, and they will go away eventually.
When something negative happens or is said to you, try not to dwell on it. You’ll only make yourself more upset and anxious. Instead of letting the incident fester in your mind – think about what you can do moving forward.
This way, even if the negative thing does happen again (or worse), you have a plan of action in place, which makes feeling bad much less likely.
If something terrible has happened outside your control (for example, a natural disaster), it’s OK to feel upset and overwhelmed. However, do not stay in that state for too long. Take some time to regroup and process what has happened. Don’t try to cope with the disaster all at once; give yourself time to grieve and adjust emotionally before getting back to life.
When we make mistakes, it is perfectly normal to feel bad about them afterward. Recognize that you made a mistake, take responsibility for your actions, and learn from it so that next time something similar doesn’t happen again. A good way of dealing with guilt is to talk about it with someone who will support and encourage you.
I wish to propose a few simple steps that you can follow to help yourself when you feel bad about something or a situation:
- Recognize that feelings of guilt, sadness or shame are normal reactions and will eventually dissipate.
- Let go of trying to control the uncontrollable by focusing on what you can do instead.
- Talk about your feelings with someone who will support and encourage you – a friend, therapist, or family member would be ideal candidates for this type of conversation (although any close friend will suffice).
- Take time to regroup after bad events and process what has happened.
- Remember that mistakes are part of life and learn from them – so you don’t make the same mistake twice!
There is no “right” way to feel about negative events that happen in life, but following these five steps will help you healthily cope with your feelings.
Taking care of your mental health with self-compassion, making amends, self-forgiveness, and accepting negative emotions is the key to maintaining good mental health.
One perfect way that I have realized to overcome bad feelings is to practice empathy, gratitude, mindfulness, and kindness in everyday life.
Knowing your self-worth is extremely important in sustaining good mental health, so being self-compassionate and forgiving oneself is very helpful.
Additionally, by spending time exploring nature and connecting with other people who share your interests, you will begin to feel that sense of belongingness which further boosts positive emotions.
Lastly, accepting negative feelings as part of the human experience allows us to learn from our mistakes and move on from them – this is what makes LIFE WORTH LIVING!
If you agree with me – take a moment to explore my new book, “Your Black Diary.” In this book, I simplify life’s lessons with a process that will help you build a habit that will positively change you.
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