Awat Dhahir
Life is not always about attaining success. It is not just about pure joy and happiness. There are times that we experience struggles along the way. We lost some friends while chasing our dreams. We experience a lot of struggles that will slow down our progress. We also made the wrong decisions in the past. As we grow older, we tend to have so much realization of our existence in this world. What are the lessons you learned so far in this journey?
We at Viral Strange listed 16 life lessons that you need to ponder as you grow old:
1. It takes maturity to realize that you deserve better.
When you are mature enough to understand your self-worth, that is when you will not let anyone make you feel any less worthy. You will not allow anyone to cage you in a toxic relationship because that will drain your energy. You do not settle for anything that deprives you of real happiness. You do not let anyone hurt you because you know what you deserve. You then learn to let go of those people who only bring negativity into your life. You do not force any type of connection anymore because you understand that people come and go of your life. You appreciate those who stay, but you will not force anyone to be on your side.
2. Not everyone is your friend.
During your darkest days, that is when you will get to know who your true friends are. Some are just there when you are winning in life, but when everything does not turn out fine, they will vanish in thin air. They will use you for their selfish intentions, and when they already have what they need, they will abandon you. Some of the people that you know are acquaintances, so do not expect so much from them. You have to learn to deal with your battles alone because you can’t expect anyone to be there for you all the time. Embrace the fact that you cannot really expect anyone to be down for you until the end.
3. Lower your expectations to limit disappointments.
Do not raise your expectations because you might end up hurting in the end. Do not expect so much because it will just break your heart. You have to know their intentions first before giving in. You have to set limitations for yourself. You can’t be all out for someone who does not show the same energy for you. It is not selfish when you protect your heart because that is what you have to do. You have to guard it because some people are good with sweet words, but actions speak otherwise. You have to be careful who you let in, because they will create an impact in your life.
4. You have to believe that you are capable of achieving anything.
In your day to day living, having a great mindset is everything. A positive mindset is important so you can still see the brighter side of a situation no matter what. You have to cheer yourself up because you only have yourself most of the time. You have to be strong for you to surpass everything that you are going through. You have to do something that makes you happy. You will never be genuinely happy if you keep on thinking about what they can say. You can’t change their opinions for you most of the time, but you have the ability to choose your reaction.
5. When you are with the right man, you will glow differently.
When you get the love that you deserve, your happiness is endless. There will be some challenges, but they are fleeting. You will appreciate that love is one of the most beautiful things ever. You can compare the feeling that you had with your previous relationships. You can say that it is happiness that you are longing for a long time. A kind of love that does not seek perfection but genuine. It does not dwell on mistakes but on growing together in life. When you have that person who pushes you to be the best version of who you are, cherish that person.
6. You have to find time to do things that make you happy.
You do not live in this world to work, pay your bills, and die. There is so much more to life than that. You have to balance your work and your life. Your job will never be there for you when you get sick your family does. You have to find time to breathe and enjoy things. Life is too short to only stay in one place. You have to find time to be with nature. Find time to travel to places even once a month. Collecting memories is better than spoiling yourself with gadgets because they are forever. You have to find time to do things that add colors to your life. You have to chase sunsets and dreams. You have to set your spirit free and be courageous to do things!
7. You do not deserve a love that comes back, you deserve a love that stays.
Second chances are simply not for everyone. Not everyone gets the chance to be with the one they love again. While she is with you, make her feel that you value her. Treat her right because that is what she deserves. Do not give her false hopes, only pure intentions. Most of the time, you will only realize her worth when she is no longer with you. You have to cherish and make the most of your time together. You do not need to be the perfect man, be the man who is true to his words. You deserve a man who stays no matter how tough the road gets. You deserve a man who supports your dreams. You deserve a man who does see the best in you.
8. Living in regret is not worth it.
Dwelling on your past mistakes will not make you grow. You will only be continually going back to a phase of your life that you have to forget already. Do not regret anything because everything happens for a greater reason. Turn your mistakes into a learning experience. Your mistakes will eventually give you more wisdom and confidence the next time. You will never find happiness if you keep on blaming yourself for every wrong decision you made. You do not need to be hard on yourself because you have so much to grow and learn. Always take your time to contemplate how to make yourself a better one.
9. Storms do not last forever.
Your life will never be perfect. You will always experience trials along the way because that adds more excitement to your existence. Whatever struggles that come your way, it will always pass. They will leave you scars of your bravery. They will make you stronger in the end. You will not go through something that you can’t win all the way. You have to believe that better days will come. You have to keep on believing that you will make it again this time. You have to keep going because a lot of people believe in you.
10. Do not regret anything in love.
Some people do not stay, and that is totally okay. You do not have to regret anything for all your love because that is what they deserve too. It does not matter if they did not love you back intensely. You do not have to regret making someone feel how true love should be. Do not regret giving someone a second chance because that is how you feel at that moment. Love without expecting anything in return. Love without limits because that is the kind of love that will happen to you too at the right time. Love is about learning to be better in all aspects of your life.
11. You will never go wrong with loving yourself.
You have to make yourself a priority because that is what you have to do. You need to love yourself because you can’t expect people to give it to you. Loving yourself is the first step for you to have real happiness. It is a must that you find time to listen to yourself. Sometimes, we are too egoistic to admit that we do not love ourselves as much as everyone else. Focus on the things that will give yourself more to look forward to. It is never selfish to focus on your growth because you deserve to have that. You do not have to feel guilty for pampering yourself.
12. Their opinions will never hurt you when you know yourself.
You should know everything about yourself. You should know your strengths and weaknesses. People will always deem you as the bad guy even if you did nothing wrong to them. They will always criticize even when it is not necessary. You have to take the time to get to know who you really are. You better not be a stranger to your own self. When you embrace the real you, nothing can hurt you for being you. You do not have to change yourself for people to include you in their circle. You do not need acceptance for people who do not see the good in being you.
13. Quality friends over quantity.
You can have many friends, but not all of them are down for you. A small circle full of real friends is better. Choose quality over quantity all the time, because you need people in your life who stand for the same values as yours. You have to have people who also spread kindness and positivity. You have to be with people who have good visions for themselves too.
14. Your family will always be there for you.
No matter what happens, your family will always be there for you. Some of your friends may leave, but your family’s love for you will stay through thick and thin. They always know that you have great potentials in you. They know that you are capable of doing great things. You may sometimes forget about them, but they will always be your first line of support. They will always uplift you every time you feel down. They are always behind your back with whatever you do. They are one of those people who really know and appreciate the real you. They accept and love you unconditionally for who you are.
15. Stop pleasing people.
Quit chasing people because they will never find contentment with what you give. They will always crave for more even if you give everything that you have. You can give so much of yourself, but they will still have something to say against you. You do not have to force yourself to be a part of a group that does not want you in the first place. You do not have to seek belongingness to people who do not value you. The right people for you will never make you feel less worthy. They will always seek for your comfortability. A good set of friends do not have to be high maintenance. You have to continually do things that make you happy because that is what life is all about. It is not your problem anymore if they can’t see the good in you. For as long as you do not hurt anyone, then you are doing good in your life.
16. Your scars make you strong.
Your scars do not make you any less beautiful. In fact, they prove how strong you are. They are validations of how you fight your inner demons, fears, and pain. They do not make you less attractive, they make you more human instead. They are reminders of how you withstand all their doubts and judgment. Give yourself a tap in the back for believing in yourself that you can surpass everything. Give yourself a big hug for continually pushing for greater things when people did not believe in what you can do.
Life will be boring if we will always have sunny days. Our darkest days will reveal so much about how strong we are. They will reveal about our character and endurance. Live a life without regrets. One important thing is your learn valuable lessons from every mistake that you make. Always aim to be better because change should start within yourself.
