Bad news is inevitable, whether it is from the TV and newspapers, or in a personal capacity. Wellbeing blogger, Sophia Husbands, gives us some advice about turning bad news into life lessons.
The way in which we react to news tells us a lot about our characters. People don’t like to receive bad news as it conjures up negative emotions and thoughts. It can have an impact on our bodies too – that sinking feeling, going to the pit of our stomach. Stress is also a negative impact of bad news. Some people may think that it is fictional, but stress can also have a negative effect on the body.
The news – the big, bad world
In our day-to-day lives, bad news can be delivered in many mediums: TV, newspapers, radio and social media. One option is to limit this information by simply switching off the news. However, news can also be delivered in person with the opening word; “unfortunately”. No one likes to hear that word and the bad news that usually follows, and it’s probably not fun for the person delivering the bad news either. Remember the saying, “Being the bearer of bad news”?
Accepting the good, the bad and the ugly
The English dictionary defines the word “equilibrium” as “a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced.”
So, in accordance with the laws of the universe, there must be both good and bad in order to keep balance. We need to accept that there is going to be bad stuff thrown at us at times. Human beings are creatures of habits. Our egos do not accept change easily. There is no winner when we are resisting negative forces instead of accepting them. . The same concept is taught in business books, especially when looking at change management. Reduce resistance by accepting the change.
Be open, because out of the darkness, comes light
The bad stuff is not all that bad. How we deal with it is all linked to our mind-set. How we perceive and react to things. The truth is that it may not be all that bad. The typical reaction is, “Why me?” or “Why is this happening?” This often leads onto, “Bad things happen for a reason.” Things don’t just happen; there must be reasoning behind them – lessons to be learnt. For example, relationships can sometimes be negative. A person may have had a bad relationship with a partner who hasn’t treat them well. The relationship may have finally ended upon hearing the news that the partner had been unfaithful. This revelation presents a choice: To cry and feel sorry for themselves; or learn the lesson of self-love and accepting kindness from a future partner. So out of the darkness comes light.
You have the power to choose the outcome
Our mind is a very powerful source and can have an impact on the outcome of bad news. The law of attraction talks about how focusing on something can create more of that substance. It may be hard to think about positives when initially faced with bad news. When receiving bad news, one reaction is to come from a more positive mind-set, rather than a negative one. One question you could ask is, “what lesson I am meant to learn here?” This may be a hard question to ask if you have, for example, lost a loved one. But it could be a reminder to be true to yourself and to appreciate life. Some people describe this reaction as a wake-up call.
“Easier said than done”, you may say. But we have the power to step in and control how we use the energy of emotions.
As the Good Witch from The Wizard of Oz says to Dorothy, “You had the power all along”. So with the delivery and reaction to bad news, you have the power to decide how you are going to turn the outcome around. See the rainbow.
- Ring out the old, bring in the new by Sophia Husbands - November 24, 2014
- Out of the darkness, came the light by Sophia Husbands - May 24, 2013