As humans, we are drawn to apply meaning to our lives whether we are facing difficult times or are experiencing the lightest and most fulfilling days. Overcoming obstacles and surfacing from a constraining hardship often leave us to feel a sense of relief and a sensation that we have recovered a part of ourselves that has made us feel newly whole. It’s inevitable that we feel like wisdom seekers at this time, or that we have become experts at life’s battles and that we have secured our place back at stability. But maybe it is not that we have recovered what we once had, but we have gained a value we were meant to learn. And through this process, a sense of security arises after achieving the destination at the end of a long journey battling the relationship with ourselves.

But, as an 18-year-old, I have learned that it is not smooth sailing when the resolution of only one struggle emerges. It may build you or offer you growth, and you definitely deserve some recognition for gaining strength, but the road never really gets less rocky, you just get more capable of traveling it. So it is okay if you feel lost or confused after you thought you had everything under control. It is natural and inevitable and even when everyone else around you seems to have his or her lives together, in reality, many of us do not.

We all have things that we experienced that we hold deep within us that shaped who we are and how we cope with situations. It impacts our perspectives and our future choices. These struggles can be different for each of us but carry the same weight. To achieve peace, it is important to let go of what you do not need to worry about in the past. It’s okay to let go of who you once were in order to progress to who you are meant to be. And it is okay if it is not easy. It is okay to ask for help.

So finding your place in the world takes time, and there is never really a definitive answer. It is rare to have zero conflicts or to not have absolutely anything to worry about, and it is important to know that there does not need to be any stress comparing your condition to others. It makes a significant change in your attitude and character if you acknowledge that you are not feeling your best at the moment and choose to accept it and just gradually work on yourself. We all have moments where we question if we are doing the right thing, where we regret saying or doing something, or if we realize a certain quality we have isn’t appealing to others. These moments of thought determine how we perceive our connection to the world. And it is important to not get lost in that moment. Treat yourself with kindness and take care of yourself. Make the best out of your situation and do not stress because not every moment should be perfect. Give yourself space to grow and be open to finding new experiences and opportunities in which you will gain knowledge. You are not supposed to know the answers and you are not supposed to know exactly who you are as we are always constantly changing and growing; those are good things.

Seek independence of your individuality in order to feel that nothing can hold you back and nothing will.