“Life is short, so live it. Love is rare, so grab it. Fear controls you, so face it. Memories are precious, so cherish them. We only get one life, so live it!”
(Unknown)
This quote is so personally fitting to me that it’s almost as if I could have written it myself, (unfortunately I didn’t and was unable to track down the deserving author)…
A few years ago, as I was navigating a bout of depression once again, but determined to find ways to navigate it and tools to manage it, I discovered positive affirmations! And the effect that seemingly simple things like this could have on my mind and whole psychological well-being was extraordinary! One of the early ones I was drawn to was this one by yoga teacher, Tara Lee:
“The sun exists even when we cannot see it, it is always there.”
This single line gave me hope and optimism when I needed it most. I later developed my own daily affirmation, a personal mantra which included things I needed to hear, and I would recite this every morning:
“This is MY life; Live it! I am happy and positive; I stand strong. I am relaxed and enjoy the moment; right now. I appreciate all that I have; my world is beautiful and my future’s bright. I embrace it all, it’s my journey, LIVE IT!”
The first line, ‘This is MY life, live it’, was a commemoration that I was finally ready to stop wishing I was someone else, living someone else’s perceived ‘perfect’ life. I learnt to embrace ‘me’, accept ‘me’ and be comfortable and content with ‘ME’. This enabled me to be more self-aware and self-compassionate, which ultimately leads to better emotional well-being. I also found the greatest love in someone who supports me, accepts me and loves me unconditionally, and after an unhealthy relationship in my 20s, I will never take this for granted! But experiencing the negative effects of that previous relationship ensured that I grabbed this love with both hands and never fall complacent about how lucky I am to have this person in my life.
Then last year, I was dealt a heavy blow and diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer… But this was happening TO me, it was not something I could turn or run away from. I had no choice but to learn how to face it. And I did. I not only faced it, I accepted it, I learnt more about it, and now I speak to others about it. I help educate people on how to spot the signs of breast cancer, of how to speak about ‘The Big C’, and I even learnt how to be grateful for it… how it has given me a new perspective on life, how it has made me appreciate all the small things in life, how to go for opportunities I was always too scared to chase, and how I live more mindfully, sinking into each precious moment with my family and making beautiful and cherished memories.
My journey through the pains in life is ultimately what has enabled me to be who I am today… and for that, I am grateful 💗💗💗
Take care & much love,
Julie x
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(A bi-weekly blog where I share journaling musings alongside knowledge and insight to acknowledge and promote emotional wellbeing)
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