Give yourself a pat on the back

Give yourself the same care and attention you give others and watch yourself bloom. -Gemma

How often do we appreciate ourselves for ticking off or even starting a goal/ passion project?

Since the beginning of our childhood, we are always taught to be nice to others, be polite, humble, and respect people, but how about you devote the same time, effort, and energy to yourself? Pamper yourself, tell yourself that you are worth it, make time to do that one thing you have always wanted to do. For instance, French, as a language and culture, fascinates me. Quarantine has given me a blissful opportunity to kick start learning the French language.

1. Whatever happens, happens for a reason

Learn to acknowledge all the downhills as much as victories are celebrated. What can be so optimistic about something that didn’t go as planned, you may ask. Let me share an instance. I knew I wanted to pursue commerce, but I was clueless about how I would do it. After quite a lot of thought and research, I decided to apply to two of the best institutes, from what I gathered. I wrote an entrance test of, say, school A. However, it turned out I did not get in. This drove me to put in more effort to prove that I can do it. Fast-forward a few weeks, I got selected in school B, where I learned so much and had some of the most memorable moments with absolutely amazing people! I haven’t looked back ever since and did not regret a single day here. Be grateful and know that something better always comes out of what may seem to be the worst.

2. Treat yourself

As stupid as it sounds, trust me, it works wonders! Promise yourself that once you finish a particular work you’ve been assigned, you can treat yourself to something you’ve been longing to do, whether it is going to a café, or watching a show, or vibing to your favorite artist. But ensure you do it only after you have completed the task. Say you need to prepare for your finals. Tell yourself that only after you finish a good amount of practice you can spend time on something you like doing.

3. Keep learning and making mistakes.

As humans, we all make mistakes. But the most crucial part is to learn and evolve from them. If you repeat a mistake, it isn’t a mistake anymore. One good way of coping up is to journal. Vent out your feelings in your diary or even someone you trust. Expressing your emotions is not a sign of weakness, rather, it only makes you stronger.

4. Accept the fact that you cannot please everyone.

People have different opinions, sometimes totally contradicting. But that’s the beauty of it. You can hear varied thoughts, which might have never struck your mind. At the same time, you cannot please everyone. Come to terms with the fact that not everyone is going to praise you, at least not always. Keep going with what you do, be yourself.

5. Focus on your inner peace

Stop giving attention to what clearly pisses you off or completely destroys your peace. You can invest your time and energy in so much more that will give you a lot more happiness, than going off at someone/ something you do not like. Time is too dear to fritter away. If there is something that makes you happy, go for it! Don’t stop yourself from pursuing it; you’ll thank yourself down the line!

6. Take it easy

With tremendously growing competition, we do try our best to fit in. But at the same time, ensure you are taking care of yourself too. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Take it all slow and easy. Have a reality check. Set reasonable standards. Something as simple as ticking something off your to-do list for the day, however small it may be, makes you feel accomplished.

You always know, at least by gut feeling, whether you enjoy doing what you do. Find passion in what you do and give it your best shot. Trying is worth it. You learn by experience. Once you start, your drive will be enough to prove you are capable of doing what you like. Put in your 100% and watch yourself go places and shine!