Everyone goes through occasional slumps, but sometimes we hold onto negativity that can affect our long-term happiness. It’s important to unlatch from the pressures we feel from society, those around us, and ourselves. Here are some helpful reminders:
1. Stop feeling like you’re annoying.
Whenever we talk excessively about something we’re excited about or upset about, we tend to feel bad for burdening another person with our stories. What we forget is that other people often vent to us, too. There’s no harm in talking a little extra in a reciprocal relationship because chances are the other person will need you to listen to them eventually. Relationships consist of give-take interactions, and as long as you’re not constantly bogging this person down with personal stories, occasional rants are perfectly fine. Stop telling yourself everyone is annoyed by you, and let out your feelings. Plus, people who love you – friends and family – are there to listen. If they care about you, they care about whatever is affecting you. Confide in them and don’t second-guess yourself. It’s better to let things out than bottle things up.
2. Your opinions are valid.
In today’s political climate, people are often ostracized for their beliefs. Instead of engaging in constructive discussions about important issues, we often attack one another for holding a view different from our own. Overlook people’s judgments of you and understand that you are entitled to the same amount of opinion as anyone else. While people may disagree with you, you are still allowed to possess your own thoughts. Don’t let anyone belittle you for being you. Whether you’re of voting age or not, you have something to contribute to the conversation. Never be afraid to speak up and always stay true to your values.
3. You are enough.
While some people in your life may have made you feel inadequate, know that you are everything you’re supposed to be. Everything you do in life teaches you a lesson, and as long as you recognize that and learn from it, you will be alright. Don’t be too hard on yourself and give yourself some time to get to wherever you want to be. Don’t let other people tell you who you are or what you should be; you’re in control of your life and you don’t have to please anybody but yourself. While it may make you happy to impress the people you care about, people who put you down aren’t people you should spend energy trying to impress.
4. Do what makes you happy.
Don’t spend your time doing things that make other people happy. Life is short and the world is full of possibilities. Make sure you’re doing what you’re doing for you and not for anyone else. Spend your life dedicating your time to things that matter to you in a personal way. Whether you’re deciding your major in college or deciding whether to eat a chocolate chip cookie, think about what would make you happy and do it. While you should think about long-term repercussions, sometimes you have to put worry aside and put yourself first.
5. Don’t worry too much about the future.
While the future may seem daunting, worrying yourself about the details won’t help anything. Don’t spend too much time stressing out over what’s to come. What’s meant to happen will happen, and all you can do is work hard now to get to where you want to be. Focus on the present to ensure your future prospects. Don’t let thinking about the future get in the way of your current productivity. Be aware of your future, but make sure you live in the moment.
6. Love yourself.
Accept yourself for all you are. Love your mind, your soul, your body, your skills, your talents, your characteristics, and everything else that makes YOU. Stop spending time and energy criticizing yourself when you could be spending that time and energy on more important things. We would never accept such harsh criticism from another person, so stop accepting it from yourself. You are beautiful just the way you are. Nothing about you is less than perfect. In fact, “perfect” doesn’t exist, so stop trying to reach something that is unattainable. Instead, look in the mirror and accept who you are. Until you do that, you won’t be living life to the fullest and you’ll be shutting other people out. Love who you are and own it.
7. Only take on what you can handle.
Don’t overwork yourself. We all have a tendency to take on more than we can handle, but this only lowers our productivity and increases our stress. Don’t try to juggle too many things at once, or you’re likely to drop the ball. It’s likely that you’ll start to produce sub-par work if you’re too exhausted to dedicate yourself to every commitment. Instead, cut down your responsibilities to a manageable level and work from there. Don’t be afraid to disappoint others; ultimately, you’re the one living your life and dealing with the effects of your decisions. Be honest with yourself and only do the things you can fully commit to.
8. Admitting your faults is a strength, not a weakness.
Saying “I’m sorry,” recognizing that you’ve taken on too busy of a workload, and letting out emotions are examples of strengths, not weaknesses. Don’t let your stubbornness get in the way of worthwhile relationships. Understand when you need to cry and vent to a friend. Notice when you’re being overworked. Don’t allow your ego to get in the way of your life. No one is perfect and no one should try to be perfect. Admitting your weaknesses is the key to success.
9. Right now will not be forever.
If you don’t like your current situation, hold onto hope. Life is constantly changing. Every moment is fleeting. You’re not going to be stuck here forever, even if it may feel like it. Life takes unexpected twists and turns, and you might just be surprised at where you end up in a year. It’s important to know that nothing is permanent and your situation will change. If you do like where you are right now, don’t worry yourself excessively about the future. Things will change in lieu of life, but everything will work out. Trust in your current decisions.
10. Have regrets, but learn and move on.
It’s alright to regret things you’ve done. But don’t dwell on them. People make mistakes – it’s a part of life. You can wish you never did something, but that something is what made you who you are today. Every experience you have shapes you. Learn from your mistakes and apply what you learn to your future. You are in control of your life, so make it something you’re proud of. Forgive yourself and accept your past. Remember that every day is a new start.
