Hey y'all!
Since we're all friends here, can I just be real for a minute? These past few days have truly not been the best. In fact, the entire month of February has not been my favorite. I haven't really been feeling like myself much at all.
When I'm down in the dumps, I like to keep myself preoccupied. Some of the things I like to do include:
- Hang out with real friends - The reason I used the word real is because we all have those friends that will let us cry for hours and just vent about life. Or they may be the person who tells you exactly how it is and you know that's what you need. I always consider if I need to be babied or realistic, then go from there on which friend to consult with.
- Write - Journaling is such a great way to get out feelings! It might feel silly, but I'll give you a few ideas to get you started! Some examples are a letter to someone (maybe someone you are mad at, haven't talked to in a while or who has passed away), advice to your past self, or even just a simple rundown of your day. If you want prompts, you can purchase a daily journal -- this one lasts for 5 whole years! I find that this is a great method to let go of frustrations and anger. Plus it's something you can do anywhere at any time since it's calming and quiet.
- Sleep - This is an obvious one. I think we can all agree that we have days where the best solution is to just go home, draw the blinds, lay down and curl up in your sheets. Definitely, don't spend all of your free time doing this, but somedays it's just necessary.
- Spend time with family - I think this one is very underrated. I know I argue with my parents sometimes, but in all honesty, my parents are my best friends. When I'm sad, they usually know how to fix it. We'll bake, watch movies or play video games. It's nice not having to worry about anything else.
But, unfortunately, sometimes those things mentioned above just aren't enough. This might sound a little cheesy, but I really like to look towards Pinterest whenever I'm in need of some advice that I don't necessarily feel comfortable enough talking to someone I know about. That's why I created my "words of wisdom" board. It started out as a board to just pin cute quote (well... I still do post quotes because they're cute) but I also really like to pin things that make me stop when I read them and think to myself "hey, wow, that really speaks to me and matches with my personal views."
It may seem silly to follow advice from a quote, but for some reason, I always feel better after reading some. It's kind of refreshing to think that someone else went through a similar problem to you, so they're trying to advise you to not make the same mistakes or maybe to think a different way about a situation. Sometimes it helps me get a better perspective on a situation, and other times I just realize how crazy I'm being.
Stay Positive
Focusing on the good parts of your life can be extremely hard. Sometimes it really can seem like the whole world is against you. At the end of every night, I like to list at least five things that I'm thankful or grateful for in my life. This list usually consists of friends that care about me, my family who supports me, my teachers for providing me with a chance to learn, kind strangers who do good just because they simply want to, and most importantly, God for blessing me with this wonderful life that I have. It seems simple, but it makes you realize how grateful you should be for all of the good things in life.
You Are Not Perfect and That's Okay
I don't think anyone thinks they're 100% perfect (but if you do, more power to you!). Self-confidence is hard because we're all afraid of being judged. But if you take the time to focus on something that you really love, whether it be baking, drawing, dancing...seriously anything, then you will have less time to stress about what other people are thinking about you. You'll be too busy kicking ass that you won't care what Sally said about those shoes you wore last week.
Don't think it's that easy? Then think of it this way: Judging others is sadly a very common way for people to cope with issues. But think of all the negative energy you spend thinking about someone else's appearance or choices. That energy is then projected into the universe. Then what kind of energy do you receive back? Yup, you betcha. It's going to be pretty dang negative. So focus on improving your own life instead of worrying about someone else.
Believe You Are Loved
Admit it. We have all been there. Everyone has been at a moment in their life when they think they are completely alone and that no one loves them. This couldn't be further from the truth. You were created out of love. God made you because He wanted you to walk among His amazing creations. He wanted you to experience life on this earth. I mean seriously think about all of the cool things that this world has to offer, and think about that God loved the idea of you so much that He created you so that you could be apart of it all.
If you aren't religious or don't necessarily believe in God (which I totally get, I used to be on that same boat), but I promise that you have people that love you. Your family and friends may not always love you the way you want them to, but they love you in the best ways they know how to. Also, people you may not even know love you and care about you. You are never alone.
I hope that reading these quotes along with my commentary allows you to see your life in a different light. The next time you feel like you're having a bad day, try to reflect on some of these things and maybe use a few of my tips! It's okay to be sad sometimes, that's completely normal. But don't let a bad day make you feel like you have a bad life.
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