We Set Ourselves Up For Failure with the Labels We Attach to the Days of the Week

How often do you grumble because it’s a Monday, or feel relieved and happy because it’s a Friday? I believe that we set ourselves up for failure with these labels that we attach to the days of the week. If we somehow didn’t know that a day was a Monday or a Friday, would it change how we thought, felt, and acted? Oftentimes, I think so. When we wake up on a Monday morning, the world tells us we should already be mad. There’s no room for gratitude. If a Monday appears to go well, it’s surprising—because this day of the week is never supposed to be our best. We utter the words “Happy Monday”, but we don’t really mean the “happy” part. There’s sometimes a quiet, positive message about Mondays being fresh starts. However, this voice remains rather quiet and the negative mentality toward this day of the week has only grown louder in the world.

Fridays are the opposite of Mondays, often the most glorified day of the week. Why? The answer is simple and we already know it—Friday signals the start of the weekend. On Fridays we are able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, a small glimmer of hope reminds us that we will soon be free and unchained from our Monday-Thursday. Hallelujah, we are ecstatic! We finally get a few days to ignore our Monday-Thursday life. What is wrong with this pattern of living? I would first argue that it isn’t really living. At least, not to the fullest.

You shouldn’t hate your life Monday-Thursday. And if you do, maybe you need to take a look at yourself in the mirror and be honest about how you’re spending your time. I think this is a big clue that you may not be living in your purpose and doing what you’re meant to be doing in life. Remember that you can always grow, change, and evolve. You can’t force yourself to be in love with your Monday-Thursday if you are not pursuing your calling. Have the courage live your best, happiest, and purpose-filled life. Dare to dream new dreams.

Daily gratitude may be the most important piece to enjoying your days (all of them). I have found that gratitude is like a muscle, and you must exercise it. If you dutifully practice gratitude, it will change your life. Instead of attaching labels to the days of the week, focus on appreciating each day in front of you for the gift that it is. Set an intention to make the most of the opportunities presented to you, that day. Allow yourself to become consumed with gratitude. You woke up today, and you get another chance to live your very best life. A hot cup of coffee, a workout, reading, having a job to go to, the sunrise, and the list goes on and on and on. If you search for the many gratitudes you have in your daily, ordinary life—I promise you will find an endless amount.

I challenge you to stop allowing your thoughts, feelings, and actions to be dictated by what day of the week it is. A few months ago, early on a Thursday morning—I overheard a conversation between two people. One said, “How are you?” and without an ounce of hesitation the other responded, “I will be good when it is tomorrow at 4:30”. It took a minute for the person who first asked the question to understand what the other’s response meant, and then they said “Oh, because tomorrow is Friday”. You may not see any harm in this, or the labels attached to the days of the week—but I seriously do. It is my hope that I can help more people soak up the simple moments of every ordinary day, and to live life through a permanent lens of gratitude.

What if we woke up every single day with the same mentality-grateful for the breath in our lungs, the present day ahead of us, and joy for life itself in our hearts. It never matters what day of the week it is because we fully comprehend all that we have to be grateful for. There’s no room for complaining and any negative thoughts or feelings, because we’re so consumed with gratitude and truly living our life to the fullest. We don’t sleep-walk through our own life, and instead appreciate every present moment and day we find ourselves in. Ultimately, we can choose this for ourselves. And, just maybe—we can help change the narrative for so many others in the world.