Jeslyn Lin, Period 6, 10/14/22

 Jeslyn Lin, Period 6, 10/14/22

Modern Mythology 2023

Atomic Habits & Growth

The standards that I have set for myself have drastically changed in the past few years, but there is one specific one that remains the same. At this point in my life, one of the most important standards that I have for myself is to be happy. I have a few others, such as being true to myself and finding enjoyment in the little things in life. However, most of these minor standards lead into my most important one.

I crafted these standards when I realized that there is no one in charge of my happiness, but me. There are many circumstances in life that can knock me off my feet: a failing grade, a falling out with a friend, petty gossip or arguments, and etc. For the past few years, the only things I cared about were my grades and seeking constant academic validation without taking into account my mental health. However, it's more important to prioritize my own happiness over a number on a piece of paper. I do acknowledge that there are wounds that take time to heal and that sometimes the best thing I can do is wallow in sadness. However, I want to be able to learn how to pick myself up and make sure to find happiness even on the rainiest days.

To achieve the standards I have set for myself, I make sure to do the things that I want. I realized that I will never be content if I just agree to do everything my parents or friends want. Whenever I become stressed, I make sure to take some time to myself. For example, if I had a rough day at school, I’ll go treat myself to a solo date wherever I want. I usually go to restaurants or cafes to cool down and relax while sipping on a drink or slurping some noodles. This year I have become more independent and realized that if my friends don’t want to do something that I want to experience, I will just simply go by myself. I am the one in charge of my own happiness and I can’t let anyone dictate how I should feel. I realized that doing activities that I find interesting and enjoyable will help me achieve happiness. I now take long walks and have started to journal once again to collect my thoughts. Furthermore, I love to bake and listen to music to put myself in a good mood. I demonstrate my resilience by always appreciating what I did during the day or what I still can do to improve my mood.

I assess myself at the end of every day. I take time to appreciate what I did that day even if it’s as simple as hanging out with some friends during lunch or walking to class with someone. If the day didn’t go as planned or was particularly upsetting, I simply accept that there are some days that cannot be salvaged and that there is a new day on the horizon. I will often spend my weekends writing down my feelings and thoughts of the week and take time to pamper myself. There are no adjustments I can make because every day is a different day with surprising twists and turns. I can’t predict the future so I always just try to have fun to the best of my abilities. There are times that I will break down and it’s completely okay to cry it out. Even during these gloomy days, I will always try to wind down and appreciate the little things that went right.