This I Believe
Life is something everyone experiences. It can either make us or break us. We can either enjoy it or hate it. It’s how we experience it that makes each person unique. It’s how we look at life. Our outlook on things in the present, past or even the future, shows us the person we are and will become. Life takes us on a rollercoaster, with many ups and downs, all that in some way strengthen us and bring us one step closer to understanding life and its purpose.
There was a time in life, when I looked at everything negatively. I believed that if I thought negative thoughts, then whatever happened would not seem so bad. Life did not seem to treat me the way I wanted it to. Everything had strings attached and nothing was the way I felt it should be and wanted it to be. That’s what forced me to believe that if I did not believe in my self, my life would be better, because I wouldn’t have high expectations. From these thoughts, nothing improved and I began to lose focus on what was important to me and my path in life. This negative outlook on life hurt me as a person. I felt myself changing into something and someone, I knew I would never want to become.
This realization came when I saw my potential future collapse right in front of my eyes. The one and most important dream I ever had begun slipping away from my grasp. My goal, from the tender age of four, of going to Harvard was far out of my reach as I grasped that report card and saw one letter pop out at me. This seemed the end. It had to be. I could just feel my stomach drop to my feet as I dreaded going home and showing that letter to my parents. That grade tore me apart, inside and out. I couldn’t concentrate or sleep at night. Tossing and turning, I wondered what I had done wrong and then I came to the conclusion that it was my outlook on life. This was when I decided that something had to change. My expectations for myself were not as high as they used to be. They were not the right expectations for me and as a result lead me away from what I want my unique life to be.
Now, I see my self in a new light that always shines and thinks good thoughts, no matter what the circumstance. This positive way of thinking has pushed me to pursue activities I would never dream of trying with my negativity. This has propelled me forward towards to the way I see life and the way I want to live it. I want to make my life my own. This, I believe.