Making our way through the world is tough. It’s hard to learn to love ourselves through the daily grind, the day in and day out that makes up the majority of life. It’s even harder when times are tough. Here are ten things you should hear today to help pull you forward through both the mundane times and the hard times.
- It Doesn’t Matter What Other People Think Of You
Everyone person you’ve ever met has an opinion of you – desirable or unattractive, interesting or boring, worthy or unworthy. Even when those opinions aren’t spoken out loud, they’re still communicated in ways that we too often internalize. One of the things you should hear today is that you don’t have to give anyone’s opinions of you space in your mind or your heart. You are the only person who is with you from your first breath to your last. The other people in your life, all of them, are passing through. The only person whose opinion matters is yours, and you have the power to shape it.
- You Are Special. You Are Worthy. You Are Loved
Every day, you’re growing and improving. You continue to push through, despite the challenges that you face. No matter how alone you feel, someone loves you. That starts with yourself. You are unlike anyone else who’s ever lived or who will ever live, and that makes you both unique and worthy of being appreciated. Keep on taking your progress one day at a time. As corny as it sounds, if you say it out loud, you’ll build your confidence. “I am special. I am worthy. I am loved.”
- You Don’t Always Have To Look “Good”
Outward appearances don’t define who any of us are. Among the things you should hear today is that you don’t have to look “good” in order to be worthy. In our world of social media and the huge focus on what we look like, it’s easy to get lost in the quest to look a certain way. The cookie cutter version of what looks “good” only puts you into a box that you don’t have to fit into. Every person has flaws, and that’s what makes life so rich and wonderful. The air brushed version of humanity isn’t real. Ground yourself in real people and the real world, then go look in the mirror just as you are and smile!
- You Make Someone Smile Every Day
There is someone out there who smiled because of you today. It might be a coworker or a family member; it might be someone on your social media who giggled at a meme you shared. Maybe someone saw you singing in the car at a stoplight and it made them feel connected and joyful. Take a moment and appreciate the good things that you bring to the world. The other person that you can make smile today, and everyday, is yourself! In fact, I dare you to smile at yourself right now.
- It’s Okay To Fail, And Yes, It’s Also Okay To Cry
The path to success is not a straight line. Open your heart to appreciate every part of the process. True success is in journey, not the destination. Failing means that you tried, and that’s what matters most. It’s also ok to cry when you miss the mark, to let those emotions run their course and release. Crying is cleansing for your emotions, like a reset button. You deserve a reset.
- You Can Do It! You’re Going To Crush It
Life is not always about pushing harder; sometimes it’s about flowing with what’s coming your way. You’re going to crush it, and you can absolutely do it. Whatever it is. If no one has told you this lately, you can reach your dreams. Don’t think that success is going to come fast or easy, but do know that you’ll get there. There are dreams out there for you that you haven’t even dreamed up yet. There are people who will help you reach them that you haven’t met. You have the potential to get there, and people are cheering you on. You got this.
- You Can And Should Say No
There are people out there who will treat you well without you having to beg them to or even ask them to. There are people who will respect your boundaries. There is power in the word “no” in those situations that are not serving us. Learning to harness that power is a path forward. You don’t have to say no to big things at first. Start in small ways! Say no to doing a friend a favor if you’re overwhelmed. Say no to your boss when they ask you to stay late and miss time with your family. It’s scary to say no at first, but you deserve to live your life on your terms. Don’t forget this point – “no” is a complete sentence. You don’t have to explain yourself, you can hold your boundaries simply for yourself.
- You Don’t Have To Be Like Everybody Else
It’s truly incredible how much power you have to define who you are, but that’s because it’s all from the inside. Whoever you want to be, you should be that person! Think about the most influential artists, leaders, educators, and thinkers – people value them because of how unique they are. You don’t have to be like everyone else. In fact, the more you allow yourself to be like yourself, the happier your life will be. Focus on letting all the layers of expectations fall away from you and be bold enough to be you.
- Bad Times Don’t Last. Things Get Better
What feels impossible right now will feel manageable to your future self. Those overwhelming feelings and life events that seem impossible to handle will find a resolution, and you will survive to see the other side of each of them. Often the things that we wanted don’t turn out to be what we needed. The changing nature of life can be a struggle, but in bad times it can be a comfort if we allow it to be. If you’re really lost in some of those bad times, remember that you’ve made it through hard times before. You can be your best inspiration.
- You Deserve To Be Happy Just As much As Anyone Else
When we talk about self care, that doesn’t mean that you stop caring about other people. The point is that you care about yourself in addition to other people. You believe that other people in your life deserve to be happy, but keep in mind that you deserve the same. You matter too! This is one of the best things you should hear today – you deserve to be happy.
It’s up to you to cultivate your own happiness and follow the direction that will keep you happy. The more you surround yourself with uplifting ideas that fuel your growth, the more you’ll be able to create the life you want to do. When you’re feeling lost, go out and find yourself things that you should hear today, no matter what day it is. You have all of the power to shape your life. Stay strong, keep moving, and keep reminding yourself that you deserve good things in life.
