ADVERTISEMENT

Life is less like a box of chocolates and more of a fog-shrouded, high-speed, non-stop roller-coaster ride. You’ve got ups and downs, sudden twists, terrifying loop-de-loops, and lots of joy mixed with fear. No matter how prepared you might be, sooner or later, life is bound to serve up a big dish of bad luck. If you want to succeed in life, you have to learn to roll with the punches.

And that’s where the ‘Images That Precede Unfortunate Events 2’ Facebook page comes in. It’s an incredibly popular social media project that documents all the things that can go wrong in your life. We’ve collected some of the most wince-worthy images, as featured on the page, where disaster is literally moments from striking. Grab your hard hats and scroll down to check out the best pics, Pandas.

Bored Panda wanted to learn about cultivating emotional resilience and bouncing back after unfortunate events, so we reached out to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Wellbeing consultant, self-help book author, and BACP member Hansa Pankhania was kind enough to shed some light on our questions. You'll find her insights as you read on.

#1

Photos-Taken-Before-Disaster

Images That Precede Unfortunate Events 2 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Daniel Atkins
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here we see the juvenile bird giving in to the peer pressure from the rest of the flock and tempt fate.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

We were very interested in how people can increase their emotional resilience when nothing seems to be going their way. BACP member, book author, and wellbeing consultant Pankhania shared a few key tips with us, from grounding to gratitude.

"Practice grounding techniques to stay in control," she suggested. "Take a deep breath, imagine roots in your feet, going down to the center of the earth. Breathe in and connect with the earth."

On top of that, the wellbeing consultant urged people to try therapeutic writing. "Write out your feelings to enable release. Holding onto negative feelings is not helpful," she told Bored Panda.

"Practice gratitude. Celebrate the small things that are going well every day, keep a list, and build on these positives."

In the meantime, we wanted to find out how people could get back on their feet quicker after lots of unfortunate events.

ADVERTISEMENT

Aside from embracing grounding, gratitude, and therapeutic writing, wellbeing consultant Pankhania suggested that people reach out to their social network for support.

"Don't be shy to ask for help. We all need it at some time in our lives. Talk and ask for practical or moral support," she encouraged everyone.

#4

Photos-Taken-Before-Disaster

Images That Precede Unfortunate Events 2 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LOL I'll bet they're normal brownies and he's going to be freaking out all night waiting for it to "kick in".

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

Photos-Taken-Before-Disaster

Images That Precede Unfortunate Events 2 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Bear Hall
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And now my new trick: back flip in the exact moment the hammer hits the wall.

Detroit Citizen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

🎶🎵 Come with me, And you'll be, In a world OSHA violations....🎵🎶

Daniel C.
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What is going on back there with my dude on the wall? Is he trying to beat it out from underneath himself while simultaneously balancing?

Robert T
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And that's how I broke bofe my arms, bofe my legs and losht my teef.

Shayne Randlett
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not sure what's more amazing - the lack of common sense or his ability to get on that wall in the first place

Darius S. (he/him) cis/grey
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"If I had a hammer, I'd hammer 'til there's mourning.". wait..that doesn't sound like how i meant it.

Julia Atkinson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He couldn't wait to get that damn wall demolished and move on to the tree-lopping job

Rob N
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And people just stand there and watch. More than one dunce in the bunch.

Mary Ross
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gravity will interrupt his work in three....two.....one (OUCH!!!!)

Suede
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those guys in back who are watching don't have anything they want to say? Like, hey...no...

Ozymandias73
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ahem, Attention all those who are thinking about doing your own construction. The gentleman in the background right is presenting what NOT to do when breaking down a wall.

David
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those are really long handles on those sledge hammers.

Tim Callahan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There’s a video out there of a guy doing this same thing, only 4 or 5 stories up.

Edda Kamphues
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok, I have mopped myself into a corner more often than I am proud to admit, but this is next level lack of brain cells.

ohlordylordy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Boss: So Brian, what kinda education you got? Brian: Well Sir, i dropped out of school because they insisted i take physics 101 and I knew I'd never need that c**p. Boss: Any skills? Brian: Well Sir, i'm good at breakin' stuff if tha counts. Boss: Yeah, yup, one more question Son, do you know what OH &S or WCB stand for? Brian: No Sir I don't. Boss: Well Son, if you show up on Monday, you're hired! Brian: Great, thanks! Hey, my mom told me to ask if you're "insured"? Boss: Yeah, you get hurt, I'll ensure you get fired. Brian: Ok, cool, cool, see you on Monday!

Cee Grant
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If this isn't photoshopped then my faith in the common man has dropped even further

Sandvich Mann!
Community Member
1 year ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

This comment has been deleted.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Meanwhile, it's vital to prioritize self-care. "The times when self-care goes out of the window is when we need it most. Use the small gaps you have in your day to get a short walk, or meditate for a few minutes," she told Bored Panda, adding that spending time in nature is also a very good habit. "Nature heals and rejuvenates. Get out in the fresh air."

ADVERTISEMENT

If you found the wellbeing consultant's insights helpful, be sure to check out her website and books. Meanwhile, if you happen to live in the UK and would like to consult with a therapist, take a look at the BACP's directory.

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Photos-Taken-Before-Disaster

Images That Precede Unfortunate Events 2 Report

Add photo comments
POST
zububonsai
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

S**t, ouch 🥹😱🫨. But no AI, totally believable. Happened to me riding my bike when I lifted it up from street level up to a pedestrian lane ( like only 5 cm high). I watched my front wheel roll away ... Hurt like hell even though I managed to put me feet on the ground in time.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

At the time of writing, the ‘Images That Precede Unfortunate Events 2’ project boasted 209k followers and 198k likes on Facebook. According to the curator of the page, it’s the successor to the original ‘Images That Precede Unfortunate Events’ page which got hacked when it got 90k fans on the social media network.

The goal of the page is to show the humorous side of disasters in the making. After seeing images captured mere moments before a catastrophe, the audience is left wondering what exactly happened next. The fact that part of the story is left up to people’s imagination might be part of the page’s massive popularity.

ADVERTISEMENT

You shouldn’t feel guilty about laughing at these images, even as you feel bad for the people—it’s a perfectly natural reaction. Not to mention that humor is a wonderful way to get through some tough times. Comedy helps you see even incredibly painful and hurtful situations from a fresh new perspective. On top of that, it distracts you from your problems, reduces stress, and boosts your mood.

Meanwhile, in the long term, laughter can actually bolster your immune system, as your stress and anxiety levels are reduced. Laughter can also work to relieve pain and to help you connect with the people around you. However, it’s up to the person in question to find the humorous side of these nasty situations. Finding the silver lining when you’re in pain or completely embarrassed is quite a tall order. It requires a lot of self-awareness and emotional resilience.

ADVERTISEMENT

Even though we might not be able to control many things that happen in our lives, we can partly control how we react to them. Becoming emotionally resilient is one of the best things you can do in life. It allows you to weather most misfortunes better than others, so you’re back on your feet and moving forward in no time at all. 

‘Time’ points out that increasing your emotional resilience comes down to striking a delicate balance between optimism and realism. Ideally, you want to see the world clearly for what it is without being in denial about the things you dislike. At the same time, you should strive to believe in yourself and have confidence in your abilities. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Being scared is a natural part of being a human being. Fear is an integral part of who we are, even though it might feel unpleasant. However, we shouldn’t aim to live a life without fear because it can act as an important set of behavioral guidelines. Instead, we should strive to do the things we know are important despite being afraid. Real courage is taking action and doing what needs to be done when we’re scared.

#19

Photos-Taken-Before-Disaster

Images That Precede Unfortunate Events 2 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Mark
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Schrödinger plates. They’re both broken and not broken until you open the door

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

Another big part of weathering whatever life throws at you is being prepared as best as you can (even though your plans might go bust). That means taking care of your physical and mental health, learning everything that you can about the situations you know you’ll find yourself in, and having at least a couple of back-up plans if things don’t go your way. Life might be unpredictable, but establishing at least some order and discipline is the least we can do.

#24

Photos-Taken-Before-Disaster

Images That Precede Unfortunate Events 2 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This looks super staged. Maybe from a movie or a TV show? Seems to originate from Russia but that car is an Alfa Romero. Yeah, that's all I got.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

At the end of the day, we need to be honest with ourselves about what we can and cannot control. Then, we can focus on the small parts of our lives that are within our grasp, minimizing risks as much as we can. As for the rest… disaster can strike at any moment, but the chances of this are slim.

ADVERTISEMENT
#27

Photos-Taken-Before-Disaster

Images That Precede Unfortunate Events 2 Report

Add photo comments
POST
zububonsai
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But dad does the smart thing to save his son's health: he puts his foot behind the back/head of the child to cushion the fall.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

What we cannot do is let those small risks stop us from living life to the fullest. We protect ourselves as best as we can, and if we’re ever unlucky enough to find ourselves in positions like the people in this post, we’ll find ways to bounce back. 

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda

We’d love to hear what you Pandas thought of the images shared on the ‘ ‘Images That Precede Unfortunate Events 2’ page. Which photos made you gasp the loudest? Which ones made you physically wince? Share your thoughts in the comment section. Oh, and if you’ve ever found yourself in a similar situation, feel free to spill the tea…

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#39

Photos-Taken-Before-Disaster

Images That Precede Unfortunate Events 2 Report

Add photo comments
POST
pinkpie
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In case there is one person who thinks this is a funny idea for real life: never, ever do this. You WILL get hurt.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda