As we all stumble through life, we come across lessons that we have to learn to be able to move forward. When we're little, we are taught to share with others and to use our manners when speaking to anyone and everyone. Easy, right? As we get older, though, these lessons become more and more difficult to grasp. The more important lessons in life sometimes take longer to sink in. Saying that you're going to do better for yourself is easy, but actually doing better is a lot harder than it sounds. Here are the lessons that I hope to learn in the near future, not because they're easy, but because they're what I deserve.
Never settle.
Where I grew up, most people were okay with just being okay. That makes this lesson extremely difficult for me to learn. Many times, I know I deserve better, but doing something about it is difficult. If I am not happy with where I am, I tend to just shrug my shoulders and say "That's okay." This is a dangerous way to be because it can make life feel static; it goes on, but feels like it's not moving toward anywhere with a purpose. I want to learn to never settle and go after the things I want. I hope to do better than average for myself and for others in every aspect of life, and I'll only be able to do this if I learn to aim higher and not settle for anything less than what I deserve.
It's okay to be confident in yourself.
Many times, I just don't feel like I'm good enough. Whether it's because of my clothes, my interests, or my appearance, a lot of times I don't feel like I live up to other people's standards. This is definitely something I aim to change in the near future, but actually learning to be okay with who I am is harder than it sounds. But, I have to realize that being different from others isn't a bad thing. Not being the exact same person as those around me doesn't make me weird or off-putting, it makes me who I am. If I stay true to myself, eventually I will find people who love and appreciate me, despite my insecurities.
You can't be everything for everyone.
Naturally, I'm a people pleaser and always try to make sure everyone else is happy. However, I have to realize that sometimes, no matter how hard I try, that I just won't get along with some people. Not everyone is going to have the same views and opinions as you, and that's totally okay. You have to stand strong in what you believe and not waver because someone else doesn't appreciate what you have to say. This lesson is one that I struggle with almost daily, but as time goes on, this lesson has become more and more essential for me to accept.
It's important to open up to others.
Do you ever just bottle up your emotions because you don't want to tell anyone about them and feel like you're about to explode because no one else knows what you're feeling? Because I actually do this about 118494% of the time. I worry that other people won't understand why I feel the way I do sometimes, and I don't want to bother them with my problems. BUT THAT'S NOT AN OKAY WAY TO BE. How are things ever going to get better unless you talk to someone about them? It might be awkward at first, but I promise, after you talk to someone about how you feel, the weight of the world will be lifted off your shoulders. You're not bothering anyone if you ask for their help; in fact, your friends and family would probably be totally open to you talking to them if you asked. Don't think that anything you have to say is stupid, because the sooner you realize it's okay to let your feelings out, the better off you're going to be.
In the end, all of these lessons are things that have to be learned. Saying you're going to accept these things is WAY different than actually doing them. But, if you and I both seriously commit to learning these lessons, I promise we'll both be even more amazing people than we already are. Be yourself, love yourself, and go out there and kick some butt. We got this!!
