--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we say ‘that was a bad day’, we are…" description: "\"“When we say ‘that was a bad day’, we are unconsciously choosing to reject the potential good by focusing our attention on the negative. In the process..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e24/aaron-kennard-45369_bad-day_when-we-say-that-was-a-bad-day-we-are-un_1527975.jpg" --- # When we say ‘that was a bad day’, we are unconsciously… ![“When we say ‘that was a bad day’, we are unconsciously choosing to reject the potential good by focusing our attention on the negative. In the process we close ourselves off from looking for the good in our current situation. And we tend to find what we are looking for. So why choose to look for…” quote by Aaron Kennard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e24/aaron-kennard-45369_bad-day_when-we-say-that-was-a-bad-day-we-are-un_1527975.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e24/aaron-kennard-45369_bad-day_when-we-say-that-was-a-bad-day-we-are-un_1527975.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e24/aaron-kennard-45369_bad-day_when-we-say-that-was-a-bad-day-we-are-un_1527975.jpg) > ““When we say ‘that was a bad day’, we are unconsciously choosing to reject the potential good by focusing our attention on the negative. In the process we close ourselves off from looking for the good in our current situation. And we tend to find what we are looking for. So why choose to look for the bad when we obviously don’t want more negative in our life?”” [Aaron Kennard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kennard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Labeling a day as bad focuses attention on negativity, blocking perception of positive aspects and reinforcing a negative outlook. **In simple terms:** Focusing on bad moments blinds us to good ones. Key Takeaway Shift focus to seek positives. Themes mindset perception optimism Mood reflective hopeful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - daily reflections - stress management - mental health - coaching Key Concepts cognitive bias attention focus emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - What good can you find today? - How does focusing on negatives affect your mood? A Different Perspective Negativity bias can dominate if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention-negative-359451/) [Bad day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-day/) [Bad days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-days/) [Current situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/current-situation/) [Looking Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-choose-5662630/) [Negative life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-life/) [Negative Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-process-5662629/) [Want Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-negative-435620/) ## Related quotes > [I don't want anything negative in my life, like hate, comparison, competition, and jealousy. I think these things are very heavy and take away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-oberoi/i-don-t-want-anything-negative-in-my-life-like-hate-comparison/) [Vivek Oberoi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-oberoi/) > [I think that's an important thing to do, to really pay attention to negative feedback, and solicit it, particularly from friends. This may sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-think-that-s-an-important-thing-to-do-to-really-pay-attention-to/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [I've always been someone who, without wanting to or without trying to, I draw attention to myself sometimes in negative ways. It made me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kali-uchis/i-ve-always-been-someone-who-without-wanting-to-or-without-trying-to/) [Kali Uchis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kali-uchis/) > [The more attention you give to your negative feelings, the more they grow, so I think things just start to blow totally out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/the-more-attention-you-give-to-your-negative-feelings-the-more-they/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [Really pay attention to negative feedback and solicit it, particularly from friends. … Hardly anyone does that, and it's incredibly helpful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/really-pay-attention-to-negative-feedback-and-solicit-it-particularly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lot of the positive things that I would read and hear in the media, I would ignore. I would pay more attention to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-taylor/a-lot-of-the-positive-things-that-i-would-read-and-hear-in-the-media/) [Jason Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-taylor/) > [As I grew, I learned to love myself more every day and not pay attention to the negative people, which helped a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khoudia-diop/as-i-grew-i-learned-to-love-myself-more-every-day-and-not-pay/) [Khoudia Diop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khoudia-diop/) > [The media attention - the negative, in particular - it makes you a different person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bosh/the-media-attention-the-negative-in-particular-it-makes-you-a/) [Chris Bosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bosh/) > [There's positive attention and there's negative attention - negative attention is easy, positive attention requires actual hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-cole-smith/there-s-positive-attention-and-there-s-negative-attention-negative/) [Zachary Cole Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-cole-smith/) > [The single biggest mistake that most beginners make is putting 100% of their effort into the positive (concentric) part of the rep, while paying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/the-single-biggest-mistake-that-most-beginners-make-is-putting-100-of/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [I don't want to put any negative vibes into this universe I've done it enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-green/i-don-t-want-to-put-any-negative-vibes-into-this-universe-i-ve-done/) [Vivian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-green/) > [If you want positive search results, do positive things. If you don't want negative search results, don't do negative things. To some of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/if-you-want-positive-search-results-do-positive-things-if-you-don-t/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [I don't want negative. I want peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-don-t-want-negative-i-want-peace/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [I don't want to be a negative piece of barbed wire sitting up in the booth with all the answers. I think that's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gruden/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-negative-piece-of-barbed-wire-sitting-up-in-the/) [Jon Gruden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gruden/) > [“I want to have negative three kids. Or three negative kids.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-want-to-have-negative-three-kids-or-three-negative-kids/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More by Aaron Kennard > [“To live in a constant state of gratitude is to live in joy.   Even challenges and trials don’t stop you from experiencing joy when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-kennard/to-live-in-a-constant-state-of-gratitude-is-to-live-in-joy-even/) [Aaron Kennard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kennard/) > [“every moment that we are unwilling to be teachable, correctable, and open to rooting out limiting beliefs and changing them is a moment we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-kennard/every-moment-that-we-are-unwilling-to-be-teachable-correctable-and/) [Aaron Kennard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kennard/) > [“Good is the enemy to Great.”.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-kennard/good-is-the-enemy-to-great/) [Aaron Kennard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kennard/) > [“The amount of possibilities in life we can see or even imagine is like a radar screen on a ship. There are countless things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-kennard/the-amount-of-possibilities-in-life-we-can-see-or-even-imagine-is/) [Aaron Kennard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kennard/) > [“To say “I hate my job,” or “I’m bored with my work, but I’m going to keep plugging away, getting by, because it pays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-kennard/to-say-i-hate-my-job-or-i-m-bored-with-my-work-but-i-m-going-to-keep/) [Aaron Kennard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kennard/) > [“accept, believe, and know – without doubt or hesitation – that ALL things are blessing you, teaching you, and benefiting you.   God is stretching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-kennard/accept-believe-and-know-without-doubt-or-hesitation-that-all-things/) [Aaron Kennard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kennard/) > [“the deep and personal knowledge that my circumstances do not dictate my happiness or joy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-kennard/the-deep-and-personal-knowledge-that-my-circumstances-do-not-dictate/) [Aaron Kennard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kennard/) > [“There is a negative and positive side to literally everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-kennard/there-is-a-negative-and-positive-side-to-literally-everything/) [Aaron Kennard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kennard/) [Explore all 9 Aaron Kennard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kennard/) ## More Bad day quotes > [“When you have a bad day, a really bad day, try and treat the world better than it treated you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stump/when-you-have-a-bad-day-a-really-bad-day-try-and-treat-the-world/) [Patrick Stump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stump/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [“My mum always taught me the value of knowing, recognizing and acknowledging when you had a good day. There are so many bad days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/my-mum-always-taught-me-the-value-of-knowing-recognizing-and/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [Today I will do my best.If I have a good day,i will be pruod of myself.If I have a bad day,I will not dwell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix-mae/today-i-will-do-my-best-if-i-have-a-good-day-i-will-be-pruod-of/) [Nix Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix-mae/) > [Inspiration comes from so many sources. Music, other fiction, the non-fiction I read, TV shows, films, news reports, people I know, stories I hear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/inspiration-comes-from-so-many-sources-music-other-fiction-the-non/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [Remember, success is not measured by heights attained but by obstacles overcome. We're going to pass through many obstacles in our lives: good days,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-jenner/remember-success-is-not-measured-by-heights-attained-but-by-obstacles/) [Bruce Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-jenner/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [“Thus in the bad days, in the dark swampy times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-russ/thus-in-the-bad-days-in-the-dark-swampy-times/) [Joanna Russ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-russ/) > [Take a deep breath. It,s just a bad day not a bad life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-a-deep-breath-it-s-just-a-bad-day-not-a-bad-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To be tested is good. The challenged life may be the best therapist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/to-be-tested-is-good-the-challenged-life-may-be-the-best-therapist/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [But just remember, the next time you see a person, do not judge whats on the outside, we could be having a bad day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/but-just-remember-the-next-time-you-see-a-person-do-not-judge-whats/) [Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/) > [Every night I go to sleep smiling, even when I have a bad day. I'm just thankful that God allowed me to live it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-night-i-go-to-sleep-smiling-even-when-i-have-a-bad-day-i-m-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you have a bad day,pray. If you have a good day,pray. Pray for the best. Pray with the best. Prayer is the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/if-you-have-a-bad-day-pray-if-you-have-a-good-day-pray-pray-for-the/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) [Browse all 1,054 Bad day quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-day/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When we say ‘that was a bad day’, we are unconsciously choosing to reject the potential good by focusing our attention on the negative. In the process we close ourselves off from looking for the good in our current situation. And we tend to find what we are looking for. 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