10 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was Younger

June 9, 2023

It's better to ignore negative conversations than to engage. This does not mean you would avoid conflicts and resolutions, but choose your battles wisely.

Learn to think critically, and not take in everything other people say. Learn to adopt a belief system that’s right for you, not just because someone told you so, but because you think for yourself.

If you don't want to be judged, be the change you want to see and stop judging people as well. What matters is you do your part by not doing what you think is wrong, than complaining about what you think others do wrong.

It takes more effort to empathize with people than to pass judgement. Condemning others can be a sign of self-righteousness. It’s so easy to judge others but putting yourself in someone’s shoes takes a lot of understanding and analysis. 

There is no fast forward in healing and moving on. It takes time, but it's better to go through the process than just repress negative emotions that will resurface in ugly ways if you don’t deal with them.

You don’t have to explain yourself to anyone. You don’t need to please people to get them to stay in your life. Friendship based on people-pleasing is not genuine. Don’t be afraid to be yourself because the right people would stay. And it will show people’s true colors by witnessing how they respond to your authenticity.

Peace is greater than pride. Disengaging, ignoring, and blocking people is not petty when done right. It takes a lot to swallow your pride and let people think you lost, and protect your peace of mind instead.

Prioritizing yourself is not selfish. Invest time on yourself because you can’t pour from an empty cup. The more you prioritize yourself, the more you can give to others.

You only live once. Make the most out of it. Don’t let anyone hinder you from fully experiencing life. Don’t let what society think make you conform to social norms that keeps you from being truly happy so long as you are not harming anyone.

Don’t be afraid to explore. There are so many wonderful things in life you have yet to discover, so many wonderful people you have yet to meet.