Why Bad Things Happen to Good People (and How to Cope)

Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, an unexpected layoff or some other catastrophe, bad things happen to everyone at one time or another. Even the most positive person can fall into despair when faced with the loss of something precious. When this happens, we often look to religion or philosophy for answers to why bad things happen to good people. To help you cope with life’s inevitable difficulties, here are some commonly held perspectives on why bad things happen and how you can navigate through them as well as possible in the future.

There are two types of bad events

random bad events and non-random bad events. Random bad events are usually not your fault and can occur without any action on your part, like when you slip and fall on a wet floor. Non-random bad events require some action or behaviour, but they’re still considered outside of your control because you didn’t consciously choose or cause them. The death of a loved one is an example of a non-random bad event. You may have played a role in it happening—for example, if you were driving drunk and killed someone—but there was nothing that you could have done to prevent it from occurring.

Unfairness can be overwhelming

There’s nothing worse than feeling like you don’t have control over what happens in your life. That helplessness often manifests itself as anger, resentment or even apathy, none of which are helpful emotions. Whether it’s an unexpected death or a sick family member, it can be difficult to cope with hardships beyond our control. But there are things we can do to help us move forward and stay positive when bad things happen. Here’s how…

One big challenge that comes from dealing with serious illness or unfair situations is grieving. When someone dies or something bad happens, it’s normal to go through stages similar to those experienced by anyone who has lost a loved one: Denial: I just spoke to her on Monday! Anger: This shouldn’t be happening! Bargaining: Let me take her place instead! Depression/Sadness: She was too young for this; we were just getting started!

Give yourself time to grieve

We all experience loss, and that’s okay. But if you find yourself grieving for an extended period of time, you may be suffering from depression. Grieving is a natural response to loss—but when it lasts longer than six months, it can take over your life. You can better cope with loss by being proactive about seeking treatment as soon as possible. The earlier you seek help, the sooner you can get back to living your life again. If someone close to you has recently passed away, know that it’s normal to feel sad or depressed in these circumstances; but if these feelings last more than two weeks or interfere with your daily routine, seek help immediately.

Take care of yourself during grief

When someone close to you dies, it’s hard not to think about whether everything happens for a reason. But that kind of thinking can be harmful. When we are overwhelmed by grief, it’s common to search for answers and find ways to make sense of what happened—even if that means believing that bad things happen for good reasons. The truth is that there is no way to know why something terrible has happened. It’s important to take care of yourself during grief, but also keep in mind that your loved one would want you to live your life without regret or guilt.

Finding meaning and acceptance when bad things happen

There are times when bad things happen and we’re thrown into utter turmoil. We wonder, What did I do to deserve this? or How can such a thing happen? Our lives feel out of our control as if an unseen hand is always lurking behind every door. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Whether you’ve lost your job or been diagnosed with a terminal illness, there are ways to cope with hardship. Here are some tips for finding meaning and acceptance when bad things happen With patience and perseverance, life goes on: No matter how devastating your situation may seem right now, remember that eventually time will pass and everything will return to normal. Even though it might not seem like it at first—especially during those moments when you’re so overcome by grief that you don’t think you can go on—things really will get better.

Tips for coping with unfairness in life

While it’s impossible to predict what life will throw at you, it is possible to be prepared for most things. That said, some of life’s toughest trials can hit even the best of us by surprise. In these moments, it’s important to remember that there are a few key strategies you can employ in order to cope with injustice and unfairness. Here are a few tips on how to deal with bad things happening: Acknowledge your feelings: The first step toward coping with unfairness is acknowledging your feelings about what has happened.