A really great Mumford & Sons song once spoke to everyone by saying “awake my soul.” If you haven’t listened to it yet, now would be a prime time to do so.
Okay, now that you’ve experienced the magic we shall carry on. There are many different ways one could interpret the phrase "awake my soul." Awake my soul to God, do one thing each day that makes you happy, or bring me out of the darkness are just a few ways the message could be taken. But something we need to focus on as a society is doing something each day that awakens your soul and makes you feel alive. I don't mean something you kind of like, I mean something that ignites your passion. Something that inspires you to go out and make a difference in the world.
As a society, we have been programmed to go to school, go to work, go to bed and then repeat it the next day. We work, we pay bills, and then we die. We have become robots that are functioned to do work and do nothing else. If sitting in an office all day and being miserable is what life is meant to be, I don’t want it and I doubt that you do either. We were created to be anything but ordinary and our lives shouldn’t be spent being miserable. Sometimes, we just really need a reminder that our time on earth matters and should add up to something incredible.
Being a college student is rough, you're expected to be an adult while also not fully being an adult yet. Which, in my opinion, is confusing enough as it is. Add in all the stress, and you have a ticking time bomb. I encourage you to give yourself a break. Yes, a good grade is important but your well-being and happiness are much more vital. Go get pizza with your friend, go out for a night, or do something you enjoy alone. You work hard enough, don't forget to thank yourself every once in a while.
If you look around, you will notice what makes happy people so pleasant. More likely than not, they take time out of their days to do things they enjoy. I know for a fact I'd be less pleasant if I didn't take the time to enjoy the little things. If you do something you love that makes you feel peaceful, you will end up being more productive. Stressing about the school can make you tired, burnt out, depressed, and anxious. Taking time out of your busy schedule to do something for yourself can clear your mind and give you a fresh start. Our mental well-being is more vital than our ability to complete three days worth of work in an hour.
So, instead of continuously stressing about working and accomplishing everything on your to-do list, take some time for yourself. Your worth is not defined simply by how much you achieve. Paint a picture, even if you’re not good at it. Go bird watching or take a walk. Sing your favorite song loudly with no shame. You’ll thank yourself for it later. Awake your own soul, be at peace and enjoy your time on this earth.
