If you’re reading this, it’ll be okay.
Everything that’s meant to be will be, and the universe has a master plan for you. One bad thing is just one bad thing, and not an accumulation of every bad thing that’s happened to you.
Your problems may seem like mountains sometimes. I like to make a list of everything I am worried or stressed about. First, I cross out everything that I can’t control. Then, I get to work on the rest of the list. Focusing on the things you can control and actively working on them lessens the stress you feel compared to thinking about everything you can’t control. Your job is just to do the best you can, and leave the rest up to the universe.
I like to keep my mind occupied. I find that having too much time to think makes me think myself into a hole, and I’m sure you’ve found yourself in this position as well. Keep yourself occupied. Catch up with family and friends frequently. Not only will this help you keep your mind occupied, it will also help you see the beauty in small things. Relationships enrich life, and while it may seem like a chore right now to reach out and make an effort, I promise that it will be worth it. Shift your focus from yourself. I’ve found that focusing on myself too much actually has a negative effect on my mental health, and that giving back to my community and putting my focus on other people makes me more content. It may not be exactly the case for everyone, but it’s important to be mindful as you go about your day and check in with yourself at the end of each day. How did today go? What did I do today that might’ve made me feel this way? What can I change for tomorrow?
Try new things frequently. Sometimes it’s hard to get up in the morning, to get out of bed, to get out of the comfort of your house, to step into the world. But remember, everything that’s worth doing is hard. There’s so much of life to explore, and while you might not have interest in exploring right now, once you get into the habit of opening your mind — to new experiences, to new relationships, to new possibilities — you’ll start to see the beauty that life has to offer. Sometimes, a change in routine is what you need to get yourself out of a rut.
Finally, appreciate the little things. It’s hard to appreciate the comfort of your ever-present bed, the constant love from your mother, your continuous access to hot, delicious coffee in the morning, because you’ve never not had it. And it’s hard to appreciate what you never miss. Think of yourself stranded on a desert island. What do you miss about your everyday life? What would you wish you could do just one more time? Use that as a guide for your thinking and use it as a source of gratitude as you go about your day and interactions.
Remember that every hardship you encounter is an opportunity for you to come out the other side a stronger person. Everything is temporary, including how you feel right now. Soon you will realize that the hardships you faced brought you to where you will eventually be. And in the end, everything will be okay.
Samiya M., Virginia Commonwealth University ‘23
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