The year has just begun and you have been thinking about your new objectives and the changes you plan to make since the latter part of November. You have probably even written a list and attempted to discard old trinkets that trigger memories you wish would just go away. Sad to say, even though progress is at the top of your priorities list, life has a way of pushing you back ten steps when you’ve only taken two forward. You feel lost, school feels like more of a burden than a blessing, work is dragging you along by the hairs on your head (and if you’re bald it's clipping on to your scalp) and you're tired of being intoxicated by toxic relationships, be it friends, family or lover(s). You’re now desperate for some change.

I’m sure by now you’re probably thinking, “why is he using my biography to attack me?” Continue reading…

You've probably tried everything you can throughout 2020 and it all seemed to have failed. You grew, but regressed and now you're wondering, “why is this happening and how did I even get here?”, to the point where it started to feel depressing; it weighs much more than you are capable of carrying any longer.

Stop.

Let’s take a deep breath in, hold for about 5 seconds, and once you're through, take a look at the following and use them to begin that thing most plants seem to be great at: GROWTH.

Plan and prepare.

It’s important to note that everything won't always go how you want them to. Having a clear plan and sticking to it, often helps you to achieve what it is that you're yearning for. The plan can always be adjusted along the way. Just ensure you have it. This will help to reduce that feeling of being lost.

- This also applies to school. You can’t procrastinate and wait until the last minute to get assignments done or begin studying. That’s a breeding ground for failure and you can’t be disappointed by the undesired outcome of something you didn’t properly prepare for. Get a timetable, complete your assignments in advance of the due date, read before class so when the topic is being discussed you are able to gain deeper knowledge, participate in the class’ discussions so the content is easier to understand which would make revising for exams a breeze.

Get a new job.

That’s what you wanted to hear, right? Don’t tell your boss I told you to quit. Getting a new job doesn’t have to mean resigning. It can also mean changing your outlook on your current position or the environment. Going to work daily with pessimism and a bad vibe only causes you to feel worse. I’m not saying pretend to enjoy working in an office when your passion is art, but make your work environment an enjoyable experience. This will help to make going to work something to look forward to.

Let it go.

It’s illogical to hold on to something that you know will only cause you more harm than good (unless you’re into that type of thing). Think of it like this:

- You’re sitting in a bar tightly holding a miniature nuclear bomb in the palm of your hand that's activated by body heat. What do you think is going to happen?

Okay fine. Maybe that analogy was a bit too extreme but you get the point. Not everyone comes into your life to stay. Even if they were born into it (blood relatives). Some people are presented to us, to teach us lessons, so we can move on to the next step and learn from prior mistakes in order to grow.

Don’t get me wrong, I know it's hard. After all, the strongest drug that exists is another human. That's what Beyonce was implying when she said she was ‘drunk in love’. Get it now?

Anyways, this may be one of the hardest things to do on this list, but seriously, let that thing or person go. Letting go doesn’t necessarily mean completely ridding them from your life. You can let a person go by distancing yourself from them and everything that has to do with them until you’ve healed from the damage they've helped to inflict (and I say help because toxic relationships happen from both ends).

If you didn't know, peace of mind is more valuable than anything that's tearing you to pieces and situations have a way of bubbling over to the point where it completely takes over and/or disintegrates what was holding it together. These situations spill over into other areas of your life and I'm sure you know how that would play out. Don’t fall victim to it.

While this isn’t all you can do, the above steps can serve as a good foundation to living a happier, mentally and emotionally healthier life without the added drama and turmoil.

You can thank me later.

Comment below your perspective and if you have any tips feel free to share.