Looking back on my life, there are several things that I wish that I had known or wish I had done differently. Rather than dwelling on the past, there are several things that I hope I can realize and learn in order to help myself grow into the person I am supposed to be in the future.
To the person I used to be,
Everything will get better. That is the first thing I wish I had known. If I had known and trusted that things would eventually get better, I would have saved myself from so much anger, stress and anxiety that I had built up within myself. Although things will not get resolved overnight, the things that are supposed to happen will happen at the right time. Having patience will help through the tough times when it seems like nothing is ever going to get better.
To the person I am now,
Stop being so hard on yourself. You spend day in and day out worrying, overthinking and putting yourself down for things that are in the past. You worry that you do not fit into society’s standards and expectations. You worry you are not smart enough or that you will not succeed in life. You overthink things such as your decisions about school and the relationships you have with people. You put yourself down because you do not feel like you are worth anything. But, just stop! You need to take a step back and take a deep breath.
Worrying about things will not make anything better. Instead of worrying that you are not living up to everyone else’s standards, rather think about if you are making yourself happy. If you are happy, that is all that matters! If there are things that you cannot change, such as worrying about getting a D on your last math test, you need to let it go. You cannot keep worrying about things that you cannot change.
Overthinking is one of the worst things. Overthinking usually creeps up on you, late at night when you are trying to fall asleep. I used to be, still am and will always be an overthinker. I over analyze every situation in a million different ways which causes a ton of stress and anxiety. I have realized over the years, though, that sorting out my thoughts logically, I am able to reduce some of that pressure that I put on myself.
Stop putting yourself down! Just because something did not go the way you planned it in your head does not mean you need to beat yourself up about it. If you do not succeed at first, that is ok, get up and try again. And in the end, if things do not work out, that is okay because it might open another door for happiness and success.
To my future self,
Never, ever give up. Stay strong and always keep your eye on your dreams. Do not let anyone tell you that you can’t do something! Prove them wrong! Get up every day with the right attitude in order to help get you where you want to be in life.
Do not get blindsided. Do not get caught up with the standards of society and the opinions of others. Stay true to yourself and do what you love to do.
Love yourself. Yes, you read that right. Many of us forget to love ourselves, just as we love our family and friends. Take care of your health, do things you love, or travel to places you have always wanted to go to. Doing things you love and accepting where you are at, will help you make the most out of your day and life.
Do not forget to stop and smell the roses every once in a while. It is more than okay to be happy and enjoy the good and positive things that happen in life.
”Accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence, and face your future without fear.” – Unknown
