What is the meaning of life? Is it to be loved, or to love? Or to make money, or to find happiness. For me, I must find bliss. I want to reveal the joy of the world. I want to be content with my life, happy with myself.

For as long as I can remember I have been an anxious kid. Lost in my own head. An overthinker of everything. Recently, after an extremely hard year, I decided it was time to place more emphasis on my mental health. I began therapy, I journaled and practiced positive psychology, But what has made the most difference is how I have rewired my thinking ( basically I stopped giving a fuck anymore). No I dont mean not caring about school, or work, I mean others.  And let me tell you, I have never felt more free. In comparison, what has done the most for my mental health is the simple idea that: all you can control is yourself. People are going to hurt you, people are going to say mean things, people are going to break your heart and let you down. But, can they really hurt you if you have a secure sense of self worth? Can your love be wasted if you’re the person on the receiving end of it? 

By no means do I mean do not love. Love, and love hard. Pour your soul into the people you love. Taking time to get to know them and cherish them. But do not pour your soul into someone else before you have poured your love into yourself. When you find true self-love, that’s when you are truly able to be free from the effects of others’ actions. When you wholeheartedly love yourself, you cannot be so affected by the disappointments of others. Be your own person rather than relying on others to fulfill your happiness. Care a little less, smile a little more, and remind yourself that everything will be okay. 

I have found true peace by asking myself: What is a life that is spent worrying about others? Why would I waste my energy on someone that has only hurt me? Can I control this? Have a big heart, empathize, love, be kind, but never at the expense of the love you have for yourself. I find peace in knowing at the end of the day, I have myself. I will always be here. When you find peace in that is when you can be released from the firm grasp of your own mind. 

When finding your meaning in life, be prepared to make the changes to achieve it. I want to be blissful, joyous and free. In order for me to achieve that, I need to care a little less, and love myself more. Prioritize your mental health and you will be able to find your life’s purpose.