Sometimes life moves so fast that we fail to see that we grow out of certain people and certain habits. We realize that eating five chocolate bars a day is no longer acceptable and that maybe our high-school sweetheart should just remain that. Our personalities develop through the experiences we face, and in order to gain the most from these experiences, we must let go of some things that are weighing us down. Without a doubt change is hard because, let's face it, chilling in your onesie all day beats adulting, but if not now, then when? Now is the time to get yourself together and ditch anyone and anything that is holding you back from achieving your goals and ultimate happiness.
1. Relationships
Arguably one of the hardest things in the world to do is letting go of someone who you once held deep feelings for. Of course this action is easier said than done. However, It is important to remember that people grow. During this growth we realize that sometimes our aspirations may not match that of our partner's, and vice versa. Not every individual you have feelings for is going to be your soulmate -- if that were true, polygamy wouldn't be illegal AF.
Whether you let a relationship go because it's unhealthy or because you feel that it's time to move on just know that, it's OK. Holding on to the past puts barriers on your future and hinders your happiness. Having an understanding of what you want your life to look like can help make this difficult decision clearer. Is the person you're with someone that truly supports you? Does your significant other bring you genuine happiness? Do they make you a better person? And if you ever need inspiration just Insta-creep on Steph and Ayesha Curry. They're relationship goals and the most accurate depiction of what being in love with your best friend looks like.
2. Friendships
Friendships are tricky to move on from because with the bad times there are also good ones, but if the bad times outweigh the good, you should definitely put a line through that "friendship." Life is different after high school, and you no longer have to pretend to like someone just because you see them every day. You're not obligated to still go out with that one kid you've known since first grade if you don't want to. There's no reason that you have to keep in touch with that girl who always low-key tried to sabotage you just because you were on the same sports team. Choose friends that share your same interests and politely separate yourself from those that don't. It's not fair to you or the other person to put on a front. Be an adult and step away from toxic individuals who don't have your best interest at heart. There is nothing wrong with ending a friendship if you feel that it's sketchy. Just because you're no longer friends with someone doesn't mean you have to ignore them, though. Be kind and civil and all should go well.
3. Grudges
Holding a grudge is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. It's stupid and it's pointless. You're allowed a short allotted time to be a bitter troll, but then you have to move on. Take deep breaths, eat some ice cream, and then go back to your life. Not only are grudges bad for your mental health, but they affect your physical well-being as well. When you're stressed your body reacts to that, and numerous of symptoms can arise, such as breakouts, headaches and higher blood pressure. You're also super grumpy and no one likes to hang out with a vibe killer. Letting go of a grudge frees you from an unnecessary burden and allows you to be in control of how you live your life.
4. Bad habits
January 1 comes along and everyone swears that they're going to break their bad habits but sure enough we're all back to eating Nutella all day every day on January 5. Even though breaking a bad habit is really hard, it's completely doable. You don't need to wait until the new year to try again -- you can start when you feel ready. Get yourself a strong support group and start working towards a better you. It's important to break bad habits because not only do some have negative consequences on your health but they contribute to how you see yourself as a person. This process takes time just as any other process does, but in the end it'll be worth it. Once you reach your goal, you'll feel so accomplished and better about yourself, and this can lead to other great advances in life. According to presumably intelligent scientists, it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. If Leonardo DiCaprio could finally win an Oscar, you can do anything you set your mind to.
5. Circumstances out of your control
Life happens. Sometimes you spill coffee on your on-fleek outfit, and sometimes you burn a hole in your skirt while ironing it. There's just something in the universe that made these aggravating happenings occur. When situations as small as these go down they're really nothing to stress over. Just because you don't get into the college of your dreams or your crush thinks you're kind of weird doesn't mean your life is over. You just have to adapt and go with the flow. The more you try to control things the more chaotic they seem to get. If you take deep breaths and focus your mind off of whatever just happened the rest of the day will go smoothly. Enjoy life and forget about the minuscule obstacles that literally almost everyone experiences. You don’t see Beyoncé flipping out because she almost fell during her 2016 Super Bowl halftime performance, so neither should you.
