- You don’t have to impress everybody
It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I learned this one. Up until then, I was always a people pleaser. I’d be lying right now if I said I still was, but nowhere as bad as before. I always cared about what people thought about me. Everything to how I walked, dressed, and the activities I did at school. I was so concerned with having a certain appearance but there was absolutely nobody I was trying to impress. Once my senior year was in full swing, I started doing things for myself. Dressing the way I wanted to, found my real friends, and started doing things for myself without caring about what other people had to say. When I stopped trying to impress people, I felt so much calmer and happier with myself. If someone doesn’t like something I do, it’s not my issue. It’s that they don’t have better things to think about, so they think about how I make them feel.
- Stop trying to control the things you have no control over
This one makes me LAUGH! Gonna keep this answer pretty short and say this for anyone who needs to hear this:
STOP WORRYING ABOUT EVERYTHING!
IF YOU CAN’T CONTROL IT, LET IT BE!
When I stopped trying to control things I couldn’t, my stress levels went way down and I felt like a big weight was taken off of me. It gave me so much anxiety when I would try to worry and control everything. Once I stopped, I was able to focus on the things I could control. I was stressing less, more focused, and a happier version of myself.
- It’s OKAY to take risks
Send the text! Tell them how you feel! Go on that date! Don’t go to class! (go to class but make sure that if you don’t, you know you’ll be okay) But most importantly, get outside your comfort zone!
The second I started taking risks, I felt like a new person. Not literally, but I felt more confident in myself. I started telling people how I was feeling and that I wanted to do all these things. There’s something I’ve been saying a lot lately…YOLO! Ask anyone, but I wish I had this mentality a lot sooner. You only get to be on this earth once in your life. Make the most of it. Get in the car and drive! Eat that burrito! Listen to the music you want to listen to! YOLO!!!
- Crying ISN’T a form of weakness
I wish I learned this sooooo much sooner. I’m gonna be so straightforward. I cry…a lot…and I’m proud of it. Sometimes it’s because I’m sad, and sometimes I feel defeated, but also it helps me feel like I can just be open and get it all out. It’s my way of expression and it makes me feel better when I can just do it. Never ever let anyone tell you crying is a form of weakness.
- You can’t change the way people think
This goes along with the first one. If somebody feels a certain way about you, you can’t change their mind. Same thing if they DON’T feel a certain way about you. You can’t make somebody love you. You can’t make somebody feel differently about you. You can’t force anything. You can’t change the way people think about you, and sometimes it’s for the better.
Until next time<3
Xoxo,
Sammie