Whether you’re having a hard day, walking through a hard season, or simply feeling overwhelmed by what’s in front of you, use the word IMPROVE to make the moment better. These seven reminders can’t change what happened, but it can change your response to what happened.

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I – M – P – R – O – V – E

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I – Imagine

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Close your eyes and picture a calming place like a beach, a cabin in the woods, or any favorite spot. Let your mind rest there.

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M – Meaning

Remind yourself of your “why.” What’s important in this moment? What truly matters to you?

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P – Prayer

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Take a deep breath and pray. Hand your worries over to God and ask for peace, strength, or wisdom.

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R – Relax

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Release the tension in your shoulders, unclench your jaw, and take slow, deep breaths.

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O – One Thing

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Focus on just one step you can take right now. Don’t try to solve everything at once.

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V – Vacation

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Give yourself a mini-break. Even five minutes with a cup of coffee or tea, a quick walk, or music you love can refresh you.

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E – Encouragement

Speak truth over yourself or someone else. A kind word can change the whole tone of the moment.

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And this strategy isn’t just for us, it can be incredibly helpful with our kids, too.

When your child is having a bad day, you can share these tips to help them improve the moment.

Maybe they’re disappointed, frustrated, tired, or simply having one of those days when everything feels harder than it should. Instead of trying to talk them out of their feelings, look for one small thing that could make the moment better.

Go for a walk. Say a prayer. Turn on their favorite music. Play a game. Give them a hug. Sit beside them and listen. Find something that makes them laugh.

You’re not pretending the bad moment didn’t happen. You’re showing them that a moment that started out hard, frustrating, or negative can still be turned around. With a little intention, we can change the direction of a moment and end it feeling more positive than it started.

We can’t change what happened, but we can change our response to what happened!

Thanks for reading!

Which of these 7 tips are you going to try right now to IMPROVE this moment!

Want more?

Click here to read “7 Tips for more JOY!”

Improve strategy inspired from the DBT curriculum.