“I hope one day I will be able to find my own happiness.”
That’s what I wrote in my journal sophomore year of high school during a time period where I didn’t know where I fit into the world. I would say it’s very similar to an identity crisis but perhaps not as extreme.
As my life went on living through more experiences, I’ve learned that happiness comes with the mindset you’re in and the judgments you make when events come and go. We cannot control how our lives will be lived but we can live our lives with the intention. We can live our lives with a positive mindset and change how we judge each event in passing.
I then went ahead and created a list of things to keep in mind during my high school years to overcome my low self esteem. Instead of seeking extrinsic validation to measure myself worth, I attempted to transition towards intrinsic validation by these simple reminders.
Be Optimistic: Positive people attract more positive people > positive + positive = more positive.
Be Fearless of Judgement: Don’t be afraid of others’ judgments or opinions. They don’t know your story.
Be Yourself: We are all unique in our own special way. Don’t waste your life being someone else.
Life is not an easy path to walk on, but that’s what makes it special. Each and every challenge is an opportunity for growth. If we can embrace that, we’re a step ahead towards our pursuit of happiness.
