Self-improvement is not selfish. Focusing on yourself is not narcissistic. It is essential to find your path in life. Finding happiness and peace within yourself is the foundation to finding happiness in everything you do. Your emotional health is just as important as your physical health, both of which I have struggled with in the past and continue to work at every single day. Something I tell myself everyday, “wake up every morning and remind yourself to be the best you possible.” Try to do things everyday that empower you and help you grow as a person. Remember, nobody is perfect (insert Hannah Montana lyric here), but there is always room for improvement.
College is a place that changes people, sometimes for the worst and sometimes for the best. It is a time in your life where you start to really find yourself, your passions, your strengths and your weaknesses. It is a time to begin to understand who you are and what direction you want your life to go. As I am about to start my second year of college, I have taken the time to reflect about my experience. I have learned so much about myself, the people I surround myself with and most importantly, my ambitions. I have learned to respect myself more than I ever have before and set boundaries when it comes to the people I choose to surround myself with.
Self-improvement is something I have been focusing on a great deal lately and I have to say, I don’t remember the last time I was this content with my life. Emotional and physical health has become extremely important to me. Who knew going to the gym and breaking a sweat everyday would bring one so much joy? For me, it’s not about getting stick skinny, it’s about looking and feeling healthy, building muscle and feeling strong both mentally and physically. I have also decided to really hone in on nutrition and pay attention to what I put into my body. I have this thing about me where I need to know exactly what is going into my body and what is in the foods I eat, but hey it’s a good thing! It is incredibly important to not only pay attention to what you are eating and the essential vitamins and nutrients your body needs but also where your food is coming from. I have truly enjoyed learning a holistic approach to my health and finding a new love for my body.
The main thing I learned about myself during my freshman year of college is what kind of people I want to surround myself with. I want to be surrounded by people who are positive and ambitious. People who inspire me by just being themselves and people I can count on. There is nothing wrong with prioritizing your life, and sometimes that needs to be done within your friendships. You need to do what is best for you. Unfortunately, in the past I have wasted way too much time with people that were insincere and constantly brought me down. I now feel there has been a weight lifted off of my shoulders since distancing myself from those people.
All in all, it’s simple. If you’re not happy, change something. Do what you know makes you happy and do not let anyone or anything stand in the way. You matter too and your inner happiness is the key to a happy life.
