1. Pain is part of growing.
Sometimes life closes doors because itâs time to move forward. And thatâs a good thing because we often wonât move unless circumstances force us to. When times are tough, remind yourself that no pain comes without a purpose. Move on from what hurt you, but never forget what it taught you. Just because youâre struggling doesnât mean youâre failing. Every great success requires some type of worthy struggle to get there. Good things take time. Stay patient and stay positive. Everything is going to come together; maybe not immediately, but eventually.
Remember that there are two kinds of pain: pain that hurts and pain that changes you. When you roll with life, instead of resisting it, both kinds help you grow.
2. Everything in life is temporary.
Every time it rains, it stops raining. Every time you get hurt, you heal. After darkness there is always light â you are reminded of this every morning, but still you often forget, and instead choose to believe that the night will last forever. It wonât. Nothing lasts forever.
So if things are good right now, enjoy it. It wonât last forever. If things are bad, donât worry because it wonât last forever either. Just because life isnât easy at the moment, doesnât mean you canât laugh. Just because something is bothering you, doesnât mean you canât smile. Every moment gives you a new beginning and a new ending. You get a second chance, every second. You just have to take it and make the best of it.Â
3. Worrying and complaining changes nothing.
Those who complain the most, accomplish the least. Itâs always better to attempt to do something great and fail than to attempt to do nothing and succeed. Itâs not over if youâve lost; itâs over when you do nothing but complain about it. If you believe in something, keep trying. Donât let the shadows of the past darken the doorstep of your future. Spending today complaining about yesterday wonât make tomorrow any brighter. Take action instead. Let what youâve learned improve how you live. Make a change and never look back.
And regardless of what happens in the long run, remember that true happiness begins to arrive only when you stop complaining about your problems and you start being grateful for all the problems you donât have.
4. Your scars are symbols of your strength.
Donât ever be ashamed of the scars life has left you with. A scar means the hurt is over and the wound is closed. It means you conquered the pain, learned a lesson, grew stronger, and moved forward. A scar is the tattoo of a triumph to be proud of. Donât allow your scars to hold you hostage. Donât allow them to make you live your life in fear. You canât make the scars in your life disappear, but you can change the way you see them. You can start seeing your scars as a sign of strength and not pain.
Rumi once said, âThe wound is the place where the Light enters you.â Nothing could be closer to the truth. Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most powerful characters in this great world are seared with scars. See your scars as a sign of âYES! I MADE IT! I survived and I have my scars to prove it! And now I have a chance to grow even stronger.â
5. Every little struggle is a step forward.
In life, patience is not about waiting; itâs the ability to keep a good attitude while working hard on your dreams, knowing that the work is worth it. So if youâre going to try, put in the time and go all the way. Otherwise, thereâs no point in starting. This could mean losing stability and comfort for a while, and maybe even your mind on occasion. It could mean not eating what, or sleeping where, youâre used to, for weeks on end. It could mean stretching your comfort zone so thin it gives you a nonstop case of the chills. It could mean sacrificing relationships and all thatâs familiar. It could mean accepting ridicule from your peers. It could mean lots of time alone in solitude. Solitude, though, is the gift that makes great things possible. It gives you the space you need. Everything else is a test of your determination, of how much you really want it.
And if you want it, youâll do it, despite failure and rejection and the odds. And every step will feel better than anything else you can imagine. You will realize that the struggle is not found on the path, it is the path. And itâs worth it. So if youâre going to try, go all the way. Thereâs no better feeling in the world⊠thereâs no better feeling than knowing what it means to be ALIVE.Â
6. Other peopleâs negativity is not your problem.
Be positive when negativity surrounds you. Smile when others try to bring you down. Itâs an easy way to maintain your enthusiasm and focus. When other people treat you poorly, keep being you. Donât ever let someone elseâs bitterness change the person you are. You canât take things too personally, even if it seems personal. Rarely do people do things because of you. They do things because of them.
Above all, donât ever change just to impress someone who says youâre not good enough. Change because it makes you a better person and leads you to a brighter future. People are going to talk regardless of what you do or how well you do it. So worry about yourself before you worry about what others think. If you believe strongly in something, donât be afraid to fight for it. Great strength comes from overcoming what others think is impossible.
All jokes aside, your life only comes around once. This is IT. So do what makes you happy and be with whoever makes you smile, often.
7. Whatâs meant to be will eventually, BE.
True strength comes when you have so much to cry and complain about, but you prefer to smile and appreciate your life instead. There are blessings hidden in every struggle you face, but you have to be willing to open your heart and mind to see them. You canât force things to happen. You can only drive yourself crazy trying. At some point you have to let go and let whatâs meant to be, BE.
In the end, loving your life is about trusting your intuition, taking chances, losing and finding happiness, cherishing the memories, and learning through experience. Itâs a long-term journey. You have to stop worrying, wondering, and doubting every step of the way. Laugh at the confusion, live consciously in the moment, and enjoy your life as it unfolds. You might not end up exactly where you intended to go, but you will eventually arrive precisely where you need to be.
8. The best thing you can do is to keep going.
Donât be afraid to get back up. Donât be afraid to love again. Donât let the cracks in your heart turn to hardened scar tissue. Find the strength to laugh every day. Find the courage to feel different, yet beautiful. Find it in your heart to make others smile too. Remember that you donât need many people in your life, just a few great ones, so donât lower yourself to have more âfriends.â Be strong when things get tough. Remember that the universe is always doing whatâs right. Recognize when youâre wrong and learn from it. Donât hold on too tightly. Always look back and see how much youâve grown, and be proud of yourself. Donât change for anyone, unless you want to. Give more. Give the things you love so others can love them too. Write stories. Take photos. Remember the little moments and the way your loved ones look at you.
