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The Advice my Mom Gave me as a Kid that Still Shapes who I am Today

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Allison Klein Student Contributor, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Mass Amherst chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

My biggest inspiration and role model in my life is my mom. I look up to her every day, and she is someone whom I can trust with my life. She has always been there for me, and through everything positive or negative that I have gone through in my life, she has always offered me valuable advice and words to remember. As someone who loves powerful words and mantras, I continue to share the advice my mom has given me with my friends and others who may need some words of empowerment.

Do not Let Anyone Dull Your Sparkle

This is probably my favorite piece of advice my mom has given me. I love it because it’s such a universal saying and honestly could be referring to anyone. This piece of advice is special to me because, for me, it means that I need to protect my inner joy, confidence, uniqueness, and passion from being diminished by negativity, criticism, or toxic environments. It reminds me to stay authentic, maintain high self-worth, and not allow others to make me feel smaller in any way. It encourages me to be true to myself and not conform to others’ expectations, even if I feel judged. It also encourages me to maintain a positive outlook and continue to shine, even in the face of challenges or obstacles. This saying has helped me be a better person, and it has gained me the title of being the “sunshine friend,” or the girl who is always happy.

Let Them

Sometimes it is hard for me to let things go, whether it is something someone said or did, and it can be difficult to keep my mind off of it, especially if it is something upsetting. However, when my mom introduced me to the “Let Them” Theory by Mel Robbins, my whole mindset changed. This theory encourages accepting other people’s choices, actions, and opinions without trying to control them. It focuses on releasing the need to manage others, which reduces stress and reclaims personal energy to focus only on what I can control. It has taught me that instead of becoming frustrated by others’ actions, I need to accept them to gain peace of mind again. The “Let Them” Theory has mostly been connected to relationships with friends for me, and it has shown me that while I cannot control what someone else thinks or does, I do have full control over my own reactions, thoughts, and actions.

“You Got this”

I say this to myself in the mirror every morning, and it is an uplifting and motivational way to put myself and my mind in a positive mood. This is an informal, encouraging phrase that my mom has said to me multiple times, and she would usually say it to me when I’m facing a challenge, feeling nervous about something, or dealing with a difficult task. It helps me build confidence in my capability to overcome obstacles, which can include exams, dance auditions, and other things that second-guess my ability to overcome them. It is simple enough to say in the morning, and I also have a bracelet my mom got me that says “You got this” on it, so that whenever I need to remind myself of it, I can look down at my wrist and it will stay with me forever.

These are just a few of the pieces of affirmation and advice my mom has given me over the past few years, and I will continue to remember these words and hope to share them with others. I truly believe that these words have made me and my life more positive and less stressful. It has taught me to enjoy the little things and to always remember who I am and never let anyone or anything change that.

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Allison Klein

U Mass Amherst '29