Staying positive during hard times is basically a part-time job I never applied for and I’m terrible at it half the time. Like right now I’m typing this on my phone in the Meijer parking lot because my apartments Wi-Fi is out again and it’s 19 degrees and my fingers are numb but whatever, content waits for no woman.https://markmanson.net/hope
Why Staying Positive During Hard Times Feels Fake Sometimes (Okay Most Times)
I see all these influencers being like “just choose joy!!!” and I wanna yeet my phone into traffic. Joy isn’t a light switch bro. Last Tuesday I spent forty-five minutes crying because my leftover Chinese food had gone bad and that felt like the final straw in a week full of straws. I literally texted my group chat “if one more thing goes wrong I’m becoming a cryptid” and then immediately spilled coffee all over my last clean hoodie. The universe has jokes.https://markmanson.net/hope
The Dumb Little Things That Actually Keep Me From Completely Losing It
- Making voice memos to myself at 2am that are just me going “hey future me don’t off yourself over $47 in overdraft fees, we’ve survived worse”
- Keeping a note on my phone called “proof life isn’t always garbage” and it’s stuff like “that one time the taco bell guy gave me extra cinnamon twists for free”
- Talking to my plants because they can’t leave me (yet)
- Having a designated “sad girl shower” playlist that starts with phoebe bridgers and somehow ends with shrek soundtrack, don’t ask
- Eating cereal for dinner and calling it “embracing my inner child” instead of admitting I’m broke https://zenhabits.net/darkclouds/
That One Month Where Staying Positive During Hard Times Was Straight-Up Impossible
November 2025 can choke honestly. Lost my job, my cat got sick (she’s fine now but the vet bill still haunts me), and my ex decided that was the perfect time to text “hey.” I didn’t leave my bed for four days except to pee and stress-eat christmas cookies in October. My mom finally showed up with mcdonalds and just sat there while I cried into my mcflurry. Sometimes rock bottom has a drive-thru I guess.
How I’m Staying Positive During Hard Times Today (Barely)
Currently wearing the same leggings I’ve had on since Monday, there’s a fruit fly I’ve named Greg who’s living his best life in my fruit bowl (which contains zero fruit), and I just paid rent with money I made selling old concert tees on depop. But you know what? The sun is shining. My best friend sent me a video of her kid saying my name wrong and it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever heard. And I still have 11 days until I’m completely broke instead of 9 so… progress??
Look, better days ahead isn’t some instagram quote with a beach background. It’s just math. Things can’t suck at 100% intensity forever. Entropy or whatever. Even my 10-year high school reunion is coming up and that’s either gonna be hilarious or traumatic but at least it’s something.https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-to-stay-hopeful-during-tough-times
So if you’re out there also barely hanging on by a thread that’s mostly dry shampoo and delusion, same. We’re both still here. That counts for something.
Now I gotta go because Greg the fruit fly is judging me and my phone’s at 3%. Drink some water. Or don’t. I’m not the boss of you.
(also if you liked this chaotic mess consider subscribing or whatever, I’ll probably write more when my life inevitably falls apart again)
