If you had to sum up your life philosophy in one sentence, what would it be?
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My philosophy has changed over the years. Rather, I should say that it has evolved.
I have always been a stubborn person. I used to believe that there was only one way, the right way, and that everyone who chose a different path was wrong. As I have grown older, however, I have learned to be more accepting.
While I once struggled to be kind to others, I have recently learned something even more important: how to be kind to myself.
Along the way, I realized two principles:
“Just because someone is right does not mean I am wrong.”
“Everyone carries their own challenges. There is no universal measure of easy or difficult. You cannot erase another person’s pain; all you can do is make sure you are not the reason for it.”
Today, I have added another principle to my personal philosophy:
“Loving is not a weakness. You can love from afar because sometimes distance is what gives you the strength to bear the pain that love can bring.”
This year has been a roller coaster for me. There were days when I kept telling myself to hold on, to make it through just one more day. That mindset helped keep hope alive, but it also taught me something unexpected. Holding on to everything is not always a good thing.
My hands have grown tired from holding on, enduring the pain while hoping that one day they would value me, see me for who I am, and recognize me as a person. I kept believing that if I tried harder, waited longer, or sacrificed a little more, things would change.
But sometimes, they do not.
And perhaps that is where another principle revealed itself. Letting go is not the opposite of love. Sometimes, it is an expression of it. Sometimes, the healthiest thing we can do is step away, not because we have stopped caring, but because we have finally started caring for ourselves as well.
Breaking away from the status quo may seem like the most selfish thing to do, but sometimes it is necessary for growth. Growth rarely happens when we remain where we are merely tolerated. It begins when we give ourselves permission to leave spaces that diminish us and seek ones that allow us to flourish.
Today, I understand that choosing yourself is not selfish. It is not a betrayal of others, nor is it a sign of weakness. It is simply an acknowledgment that your well-being matters too.
My philosophy has not changed because my values have changed. It has evolved because life has taught me new lessons. With every experience, every disappointment, every act of kindness, and every goodbye, I have found another principle worth carrying forward.
And for now, those principles are enough to guide me.
