Why It’s Okay Not to Be Okay

Last Updated: 03 September 2020

Although I try very hard to focus on only the positives in life here on The Writing Greyhound, sometimes, I think it’s important to remember one very important lesson – it’s okay not to be okay.

On social media, it can be all too easy to see things through a rose-tinted lens. Most people will only post updates, photos, and news about the very best parts of their lives, sifting through the more mundane parts of daily life in order to cherry-pick the cream of the crop. This creates a disconnect between life in reality and a life as displayed by social media, and as a result, it’s easy to see why social media causes problems for many people.

However, as we all know, real life is not like social media. Real life has more than its fair share of ups and downs, good days and bad days, the highest highs and the lowest lows. Sometimes things don’t go to plan, and do you know what? That’s okay.

No matter how idealistic it may be, it’s impossible for every single day to be a good day – life just doesn’t work like that. Instead, we must make the best of what we have and if we’re not happy or things just aren’t working out, we have the choice of powering through or actively trying to change the aspects of our lives that are falling short.

Of course, this is often easier said than done, especially if multiple things go wrong around the same time or something devastating happens completely out of the blue. In situations like these, when life seems dark and bleak, the chances are that you will encounter at least one person trying to help by offering words of advice like, “things aren’t as bad as they seem,” “it will all be alright”, or even just - “chin up!”

Often, these words of supposed wisdom will have the exact opposite effect and could do more harm than good. Instead, when times are tough and happiness is little more than a distant glimmer of hope, it’s important to remember that it’s okay not to be okay.

Nobody can tell you how to feel because your feelings are what makes you, you – they are unique and individual to you, and therefore, there’s no right or wrong way to feel, think, or act. Everyone deals with bad news, loss, and sadness in different ways, which is why trying to heed the advice of words like these can often seem as futile as trying to heal a broken leg with a plaster.

This may not be the most cheery topic to read about, but it’s a fact of life that we all go through good days and bad days. We need to be kind to our minds and bodies to take care of ourselves and have the chance to heal. Sometimes, a gentle reminder that there’s no ‘right’ way to feel or deal with things can bring a little comfort – and if you’re currently going through a tough time, I hope this post manages to do that for you.

Disclaimer – I am not a qualified health professional; these are simply my personal opinions. If you are currently struggling, I strongly urge you to seek out assistance from someone who can help you, whether it’s a trusted friend or family member or a service like the ones listed here.

Do you have any advice? Share your thoughts in the comments below!