30 Days of Joy: Turning Bad News Into Good News

When a setback begets progress.

Brent Stoller
Jul 29, 2017 · 2 min read

Note: This article is the next step in my challenge to find joy in something — anything — every day for 30 days. Today’s entry is part 20.

This morning, I got some news I was hoping I wouldn’t get.

For the purpose of this article, the details of the situation are unimportant.

What is important, though, was my reaction to it.

Whenever I’ve endured misfortune in the past, my initial instinct has always been to shut down.

I don’t want to talk about anything, and I don’t want to do anything. I just want to be left alone with my disappointment/discouragement.

Today, I felt those same desires in the development’s immediate aftermath.

I thought about how I was going to blow off work, and abandon my diet, and embed myself in the couch until my mind was consumed with the 38 “House Hunters” episodes on my DVR.

But thankfully, those thoughts weren’t as strong as they’ve been before. Nor did they have the staying power.

And before too long, after processing my feelings as best I could, I sat down at my computer and upheld my promise to write this article.

As much as it sucks to have suffered a setback in one area, I’m encouraged by the progress I’ve made in another.

Call to Action

If you’re ready to become a better communicator, decision-maker and risk-taker while also boosting your overall happiness, check out my video, “5 Strategies That Will Make You Unstoppable.”

Click here right now to get the video!

And visit www.BrentStoller.com for more!

100 Naked Words

Est. May 2016. 100 vulnerable words, one day at a time. Every day.

Brent Stoller

Written by

Writer in Texas. www.BrentStoller.com.

100 Naked Words

Est. May 2016. 100 vulnerable words, one day at a time. Every day.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade