I, like many other people, have had some dark times in life. Whether it’s school, life or family-related, we all go through a time where one or all of these things stress us out like never before.
Usually, when I became stressed, mad or upset about something, it would affect my whole day, maybe even weeks. I would be down in the dumps and plain ole miserable. It wasn’t until I had to spend the holiday season (Thanksgiving, Christmas AND my birthday, which is New Year’s Eve) alone that I decided I could no longer take the depression.
I don’t know what caused the epiphany, but something my mom said during this time really stuck out to me and it continues to echo in my head whenever I start feeling down. She said, “ At the end of the day, you need to protect your peace. That’s what matters. You shouldn’t let someone/something stress you out on your own phone.”
I don’t know why her saying this to me made things hit home, but they did. How can I let something stress me out in my own life? We are all in control of our own emotions. No one tells us to be sad or mad or overwhelmed. We make ourselves feel that way! When this really sunk in and registered in my head, my whole mindset for life changed.
I stopped worrying about the uncontrollable or the inevitable. I stopped allowing myself to give others access to me when they don’t deserve it. I started looking at the cup half full instead of empty. Of course, this is easier said than done, and I feel like I literally went through hell to even get to this place, but now that I am here, I’m grateful for the mindset it has manufactured for me.
When you start truly living, feeling and thinking for yourself, you feel so free because you’re worrying about nothing but yourself and what’s in your control. Your mindset truly is everything, and the saying, “there’s no point crying over spilled milk,” rings truer than it ever did before. So next time you’re having a meltdown, and your lashes are hanging on by a thread, stop, say it is what it is, and go out for some drinks!