Making Decisions

Think Before You Act

     Every day we are faced with tons of decisions, whether we realize it or not. These decisions come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They can be small decisions and huge decisions, but no matter how big or little the decisions are, every choice we make ends up affecting our future. As humans, we have the power to make our own decisions. Therefore, we have the power to choose how we want our future to turn out. 
     Especially in high school, in can be difficult to always make the right choices, and it is a part of our nature to not always make the perfect decisions, so don't become discouraged if you mess up. Use your mistakes to learn what not to do in the future. Again, you have the power to make your future a bright one.
     How can you become more likely to make the right decisions for your life? Stand for something. If you stand for something, you will be tested in it. Stick to what you believe in, no matter what. Even if your friends try to get you to do something you don't want to do, always remember what your morals and values are. They might even rub off on your friends. However, if they don't, just know that you should be satisfied with yourself for standing for something. Being passionate about something positive in your life can do great things for you and take you far. Stick to how you truly feel. Just be nice to people, don't drink or do drugs, don't skip school, don't exert violence and hatred... Be positive and encouraging towards yourself and others around you.
     Before every decision, think about the consequences you will receive in the future. If you stop and take a minute to think before every action, I guarantee you that you will see a positive change in your daily life. It's not hard. Just think before you act. 

Tell yourself every day: "I will make the right choices, because every little thing I do today will affect my future in some way." 

-B

Moving Forward

Leave the Past in the Past     

     As you go through life, there will be people and situations you have to leave in the past. Of course, some things will be easier to leave behind than others, but we leave these things in the past for a reason. They aren't supposed to make it into our future. 

     We experience people and situations for a variety of different reasons. We don't know all of these reasons for sure, but we do learn from the experience. If you can't figure out why some things happen to you, just know that they were meant to happen and that you will be okay. Like I always say, there is no other option but to be okay. Whether you lose someone to death, you go through a break-up, you stop being friends with someone, you have to be okay. The future holds so many opportunities for you and you have to be confident enough to know that you will do good for yourself. The true accomplishments in your life don't happen because of others, they happen because of yourself. 

     It can be extremely difficult to not look back at the past, that's why it is okay to glance back every now and then. It's actually important to "glance" because then you will continue to learn from your past and its mistakes. However, you can't "stare" back into the past because it can easily make you depressed and cause you to lose motivation. If anything, the past should motivate you to do good for yourself in the future. You can't go back and change anything, so use your experiences to make changes for your future. Don't rehash, there is no point. 

     If you continue to look forward, I promise you will be happier. You will be happy focusing on positive aspects of your life. You will be happy appreciating the everyday moments. You will appreciate the hope you have for a brighter future. You will appreciate a brighter future. 

Don't you dare kick into reverse. Glance in your rear-view mirror every so often, but you better make sure you keep a steady press on the gas and keep your eyes on the road to get where you are going. 

-B

Take Some Time for You

     How do you know who you are?

     How do you know what you really feel? How do you know what your own true opinions are? How do you know who you are? It is so easy to become influenced by others about many things. A lot of times, you base your opinions about topics based on what others think because it is easy. It is easier to feel how others feel about situations because it avoids conflict. This is understandable to a certain degree, but what about when that feeling gets lost in the person that you truly are? It can become so easy to lose yourself in the way others think and feel. How can you really find yourself?

     It's easy to say that you know who you are, but the truth is there are many people who don't know who they are and don't even realize that. It's important to take time for yourself to gather your own personal thoughts and feelings. When you get lost in the way your friends or peers think, you lose your own identity and sense of self worth. You become dependent on others which can be harmful to society because you won't be able to think about situations logically. Life becomes a popularity contest, when in reality everything should come down to wrong and right. There is nothing wrong with going into a small "hibernation" with yourself every once in a while so that you can become mentally stable. In fact, I recommend everyone do this. Also,check yourself at the end of every day. Take a look from the outside and ask, "Do I like the person I was today?" If the answer is yes, then think about how you can build onto who you were that day. If the answer is no, think about (and even write down) what you didn't like about yourself that day and brainstorm about how you can fix those things. Don't forget that there is always room for improvement. When you think you are at your best, think about ways you can make yourself even better. Once you get into the mindset of really practicing to be the person you know you are, things will start to look brighter for you. Learn who you are by taking time to get to know yourself, and once you begin to see who you are, project that into society and I guarantee you will gain nothing but positivity and support in return.

-B