It’s easy to sometimes see life with a glass half empty attitude, when you’re feeling down. However, even if times are tough or getting you find yourself getting worried about what you haven’t yet achieved in life, it’s important to remember the things that you do have. The growth and progress you’ve made up until this point hasn’t been easy, so even if you feel like something is going wrong in your life, you need to take pride in those tiny things. Here are all the ways that you’re definitely doing better than you think you are.
1. You paid the bills this month
This is more than many people can say in these uncertain times, so if you had money for the essentials and maybe even a couple of extra things, you’re doing great — don’t sell yourself short that you’re not a millionaire yet.
2. You have time for self-care
Yes, binging your favorite Netflix show on the couch or ordering takeout counts. If you have time to do things other than work and sleep, you’re one step ahead and taking care of your mental health. Many people out in this world just work until they go to sleep in order to survive.
3. You’re not worried about going without a meal
Hunger is a serious problem, and if there’s consistently food in your pantry or fridge and you have the ability to feed yourself on a regular basis. If you’re not freaking out about where you next meal will be coming from, then you’re doing pretty good — don’t sell yourself short.
4. You have at least one truly close friend or family member in your support network
People have a tendency to worry about the number of friends they have, but in the midst of a pandemic, you realize who really matters, and it’s not those occasional acquaintances you party with or check in with once in a while. If you feel any sense of community and joy in your life, and that’s more than a lot of people can say.
5. You’ve learned from past mistakes
They say that repeating the same thing over and over again and expecting results is the definition of insanity, so if you’ve managed to learn from your past mistakes and change for the better over the past few years, or at least not repeat past terrible decisions, then bravo! Many people don’t learn from their mistakes, but you turn those moments into important life lessons.
6. You have the ability to go beyond the bare minimum of necessities
This means a range of clothing in your wardrobe, or a cup of coffee in the morning. It’s even the luxury of filling up a full tank of gas. These things that many of us take for granted are things that other people don’t have in their circumstances.
7. You’ve made progress of some kind
Whether it’s getting a degree, completing a milestone, or snagging that job you’ve always wanted, if you’ve made progress in any part of life and aren’t staying stagnant, that’s what counts. Making improvements is a big deal, but sometimes we get caught up in comparing our lives to other peoples’ – we’re here to say that consistent progress is worth celebrating too, and should be considered a win.
8. You have good instincts and awareness
Trusting your gut is something that shouldn’t be underestimated. If you ever get a sense of what’s not right, even if you’re not sure exactly what it is, that’s a pretty big deal. Instincts guide you and help protect you in life. Most importantly, these instincts and sense of awareness keep you looking out for #1 and taking care of yourself better.
9. You have a roof over your head and a space of your own
In an era where homelessness is a serious problem, having a space of your own is a massive privilege. This doesn’t have to mean that you live alone or own a house. Instead, simply having a room, or a desk – just a little place where you can gather your thoughts and have complete control over your universe and who you allow into it.
10. You’re adaptable
No matter what throws your way, being able to adjust on the fly is the most important quality you can have. You can’t ever achieve success without learning to have an adaptable mindset and go with the flow. As long as you’re not refusing to change, you’re doing better than you think.
