As I grow older and (hopefully) wiser, I find myself reflecting on life's broader picture every few years. I think deeply about the choices I've made in my lifestyle, relationships, and experiences. Did I truly need to go through certain situations, or were some of them avoidable? How much responsibility do I bear, and where do external factors come into play? What can I actively work on to improve, and what parts should I simply let go? These reflections help me understand what deserves my energy and what might be best left in the past, freeing up mental space for growth and new possibilities.
Imagination is the beginning of creation
I often catch myself over analyzing situations, replaying moments in my mind to the point where I wonder if I'm obsessing over things I can't change. Sometimes, I let these intrusive thoughts weigh so heavily on me that they risk overshadowing positive aspects of my life. Yet, as human as I am—with room for mistakes—there’s no place for self-pity in this process. Instead, there’s a need for intentional change: breaking unhelpful patterns, reshaping my mindset, and refining my character. Growth lies in recognizing what to release and what to transform, keeping my focus on becoming a better version of myself.
We rarely talk about the pain that comes with the journey of becoming a better version of ourselves. It’s a process that often unearths memories we thought we had buried—the trauma from years of not expressing what damaged us internally, the heartbreaks and toxic behaviors from others that we endured, the emotional missteps we accepted in pursuit of our own version of love. Sometimes, this path even leads us to confront the ways we’ve sacrificed parts of ourselves—our innocence, our boundaries—in an attempt to keep someone close.
Then there’s the grief, not only from the loved ones we’ve lost to death but also those who chose to leave our lives. Seeking help from a therapist is a healthy and necessary step, but it often means revisiting wounds we wish would just heal, never to reopen. This journey of self-improvement requires courage to face the uncomfortable truths, shed light on old hurts, and release the past to truly move forward.
Imagination is the most marvelous, miraculous, inconceivably powerful force the world has ever known.”
Sometimes, we get lost in daydreams of perfection, wondering, why me? after doing everything "right." We might glance out the window and see a couple who appears flawless, imagining their relationship must be effortless and full of happiness—without knowing anything about their story. Or we might look at a celebrity’s life and feel envious of their wealth, thinking, If I had that money and time, my life would be so different. But what we often overlook is that their lives may be more complicated than ours in ways we can’t see. They might even long for the simplicity we take for granted.
It’s incredible what our minds can invent within minutes, imagining stories about others that feed our doubts and insecurities. But I’ve realized that sometimes we’re as “perfect” as we need to be for our own journey. Self-acceptance means choosing to love ourselves a little more, however that looks—especially on the struggle days, when we don’t feel happy with where we are, what we have, or the age we’re at. Real growth begins with honoring ourselves, even in our most imperfect moments.
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