Have you ever wished you could disappear? I hated life for being unfair, which is why I dreamt of disappearing. I thought that if I were to disappear, things would be better. Yet I know I cannot give up or change the life I’m living. Soon I realized that the moment I thought that I cannot change my life is the moment I lost. It was the way I looked at my life that made me hate it. Just like what Arthur Rubinstein said, “If you love life, life will love you back.”
In that moment, I realized that I can’t run away forever. I have to face my own shortcomings and accept all the things that I kept on refusing to. I realized that the things that I wanted to destroy inside of me are what make me beautiful and complete. Then, I learned to forgive myself in the process and learn to love myself and my life again.
Here are the tips that helped me learn to love life again.
1. Find kindness
Rara Noormega, a mental health advocate, pointed out that kindness can save you in your difficult days. When there are days that you hate yourself, kindness allows you to heal. Whether it be from yourself or from others, always find kindness. When you let it through, you will be free. Only when you are free can you love yourself and your life to the fullest.
2. Change for the better
Just as Sophia Bush mentioned, “You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress, simultaneously.” You can always change yourself for the better, no matter how long it takes. As long as you live and love the life you have, you have plenty of chances to change yourself for the better.
3. Appreciate the little things
Start appreciating the little things that make you happy. You can get back to loving life if you know how to celebrate the little things. Whether it’s winning a game or cooking your favorite dish for dinner, celebrate it. Angel Chernoff said, “Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to accomplish something big, that we fail to notice all the little things that give life its magic.”
4. Live in the moment
People often get caught up in doubt and regrets. When I was dealt with negativity, I tried not to dwell on it. Forgiving myself and avoiding thinking about the what-ifs made me free. Letting go and protecting your inner peace and happiness are the most important parts. Only when you start living in the moment, you start to fall in love with life.
5. Slow down and enjoy
I always think that when I rush things, I can get a better spot ahead. I almost lost myself trying to win every battle and get ahead. You have to learn how to slow down and wait for when the timing is right. As Eddie Cantor said, “It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast – you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.”
6. Choose yourself
I always find the definition of happiness vague. No matter how much I try to pursue happiness, I always end up getting hurt. Then, I finally realized that it was because it wasn’t genuine. Happiness starts with us. It starts with our choices. When you make a choice, always choose yourself. Choosing yourself is your way to achieve genuine happiness.
Lucille Ball once said, “Love yourself first and everything falls into line.” When you forgive yourself and learn to love and choose yourself again, happiness follows. Only when you are happy can you love life back.
