I know all you get to see most times is the fancy lifestyles, the nice outfits we wear and the beautiful places we pose for pictures, the nice caption that suggests we have made it through life. I would love to make you believe that life is always like that for us; bed of roses everywhere. But that simply is not true. Some of us don't ever feel good enough; we are always striving for something distant, always comparing ourselves with friends, always comparing where we are at the moment to where we thought we should have been, and trust me that is not a wonderful place to be in.
Need I say that it is not easy to be a young person anymore in this present generation; constantly striving to keep your head above water in a generation full of vanity {where illegitimacy is the stock in trade}. Have you ever tried going out to get a couple of drinks with friends at a bar just to have the whole atmosphere suddenly hijacked by a group of modern-day money spraying Pablo Escobars, making sure you notice them with their white Benz, neck full with gold chains, gold bangles, gold rings and 'gold everything'. They have the finest girls, the finest cars, jewelleries and designers clothes. What more can you possibly ask for? They have all these at a breathtaking young age.
They indirectly spite our fathers many years of hardwork; people who at 25 or even younger have more money than most of our fathers ever had in their lifetime, making what used to be regarded as hardwork look like a vain pursuit.
Have you ever sat down to wonder what exactly you have been doing with your life? Then comes bouts of panic or anxiety attacks. You tend to conclude that you have failed. What will you tell your children? Even though some of us take consolation in the fact that one cannot claim to know the end of a book merely by scanning through the first few pages, yet, that knowledge doesn't make it any easier.
Here is a word of advice: you must keep believing in the integrity of your path, you must continue to express faith in your expected end; even though it seems to be taking so long. You might have not gotten where you are going, but you are definitely not where you used to be.
Personally I have come to realise that when anxiety attacks our mind it keeps us from seeing the little progress we have been making all along {making our efforts look like nothing and merely a child's play}. However you must keep reaffirming to yourself that you are doing the best you can under the circumstances. You must learn to celebrate your little wins.
Another thing you must do is to uproot toxicity out of your life. The things that may be toxic to you may look normal or even enjoyable but they are the very things you need to take care of in order to maintain the sanity of your mind. This may include; limiting your exposure to those environment that make you feel less of who you are, as well as distancing yourself from those who arouse in you the feeling of inadequacy and unworthiness. Hanging out with them may feel good, but what you may not readily realise is how your continuous association with them is robbing you of your peace of mind.
Do what makes you come alive. It might not make sense to any other person, but as long as it gives you a sense of fulfillment and reignites your hope. It might be as simple as a frequent walk in the park, participating in religious activities, spending time with a loved one or singing your heart out. Learn to patronize yourself and prioritize your own happiness and mental wellbeing.
In the words of Nelson Mandela, "A winner is a dreamer who never gives up. No one who gives up ever wins. If you give up prematurely or settle for less, then you have joined forces with the enemy to keep yourself from reaching your end.
My final words: keep believing, climb and maintain. And In the words of the Psalmist, "Keep your eye on the healthy soul, scrutinize the straight life; There’s a future in strenuous wholeness."
NE.