One month into this school year, I went blonde, broke up with my boyfriend of two years, and began my self-growth journey. You may ask why I put myself through so much change. As a Taurus, I’m supposed to crave stability, right? Yes — but taking a step back and reinventing myself was the healthiest choice I could have made. Let me tell you why.
Re-writing toxic mindsets
Growing up watching fairytale movies and reading romance novels, I turned into a hopeless romantic. And consequently, I started to idealize relationships. If I wasn’t dating someone, I didn’t feel complete. But, this year, I decided to take a step back. I decided to refrain from taking love so seriously at a young age, and instead, decided to focus on giving myself space and time to grow as a person before committing to anything serious. Sometimes single life is the healthiest choice, especially when you’re still figuring yourself out. After all, the last thing you want to do is drag someone else through your roller coaster of self-growth — a ride you sometimes need to go on alone. By channeling more of my energy into friendships, I’ve gotten close with many amazing people, made unforgettable memories, and learned more about myself.
Outgrowing your old self
This is my last teen year before I enter my 20s — arguably the most important decade of one’s life. With this transitionary period also comes the need to outgrow aspects of your life that were not good for you. My mental health has never been better than in the past few months, and I credit much of that to learning that it is okay to outgrow old friendships, old habits, and old personality traits. There was a lot about high school me that I did not like, and I dedicated myself to outgrowing those parts. I wasn’t afraid to distance myself from high school friends who were not good for me. I wasn’t afraid to scrap old personality traits — moving away from the uptight and anxious student I used to be. College is obviously still stressful, but this year, my motivation comes from studying something I genuinely love — and my grades (and mood) are better than ever before. I catch myself being a lot more upbeat and confident. So for anyone still in high school, I promise it gets better!
Implementing healthy change
Life during the pandemic was extremely stagnant, and I’m sure we all realized how much we took for granted. As pandemic restrictions began to lift, I realized that I can be whoever I want to be and truly live in the moment. If I want to go from black to blonde hair, what’s stopping me (other than my mom, who’s now with it)? My point is, don’t let anyone — especially your own self — stop you from trying out new things and taking risks. So, go on that impulsive trip with your friends. Go to that concert. After all, change is always followed by growth — and this growth is often necessary. The most impulsive decisions often make for the best memories.
This is not to say that I will never go back to my naturally black hair, or that I will avoid relationships for the rest of my life. Staying grounded is equally as important. But, I like the new me. The me that is focused on herself and her well-being. The me that is spontaneous and closer than ever to her friends. The me that is happiest I’ve been in a long time. Though my self-growth journey is far from complete, I am proud of the progress I’ve made.
I challenge you to put yourself through healthy change. Trust me, your future self will thank you!
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