Photo courtesy of Google; edited by yours truly.

Few months ago, I've been in a situation that made me feel dejected and discouraged. I felt that the world is going against me and that I am helpless. I was agitated but I knew that what was happening is another way to learn things from a new perspective.

I knew I had to decide for myself and so I let go of toxic things/people that has been causing me such inconvenience; deleted contact numbers, stopped checking social accounts, stopped thinking of the negative things and started doing productive ones ― work, poetry, physical activities, and just be appreciative and grateful.

In God's grace, I have accomplished things in doing so. It's going to be nearly two months since I decided to free myself to things that are not worth it. Nearly two months of feeling lighthearted. 

In the process, I have learned things that helped me to achieve my goal ― never be resentful. Below are 50 reminders that taught me to go through my tough times (remember that these might help you or might not; it's all about how we approach it):

1. Fighting with somebody is completely useless.

2. A heavy bag that you carry will never be lighter until you unload it.
 
3. Defeat is not a curse, it’s a blessing.
 
4. We will all be wounded, but we will all heal in time or the soon that we decided to release what has been breaking us.
 

5. Live your life instead of trapping yourself in the past.
 
6. Life is far too short to waste your time in doing unnecessary things.
 
7. Never feed the trolls ― stop before you go into a rage blackout.

8. Forgive and be positive.

9. The world isn't going to wait for you. Get up and move forward.

10. Instead of watching other people have adventures, have some of your own.

11. Stop gossiping — it can be juicy and kind of fun, but it really gets you nowhere.

12. Don't take it to heart when someone rejects you.

13. Jealousy and insecurity can kill your spirit; there's no reason to torture yourself.

14. Let your past make you better, not bitter.

15. Life is about ups and downs, a series of victories and losses.

16. Don't let your insecurities eat you alive.

17. You certainly can’t erase the past but you can always choose an attitude that moves you forward.

18. You have to accept how things are. You can make it easy on yourself, or you can make it hard. The choice is yours.  

19. Holding a grudge doesn't make you strong; it makes you bitter. Forgiving doesn't make you weak; it sets you free.
 
20. Pain happens to you.  Stress happens through you.
 
21. Stress is your resistance to what’s happening.
 
22. Don’t let vain insults get to your heart.
 
23. A peaceful, mentally strong person is not a person who’s always in a good situation, but rather a person who always has a good attitude in every situation.
 
24. Whatever situation you are in, take time to mindfully respond.
 


25. Stop destroying what is left of your heart by constantly thinking about things that have broken you.
 
26. If you look for reasons to be angry and upset, you’ll find plenty of them. 

27. Finding the exceptional in the ordinary is the real extraordinary.
 
28. If you don’t acknowledge the magnitude of the poor choices you’ve made, you’re bound to justify doing them again.
 
29. You can control how you treat people, but you cannot actually control what they think.
 
30. Defensiveness never precedes growth, it stunts it. 

31. Your pain is an excuse to be in a bad mood, but not an excuse to be cruel.
 
32. There is nothing worse than ruining yourself for people who aren’t worth it.
 
33. God's greatness is more than enough.
 

34. What consumes your mind, controls your life.

35. Not every part of your private life needs to be public.

36. Don’t let your emotions blind you.

37. Mocking someone continuously doesn't make you look good; it reflects your soul. It just shows how envious and discontented you are in your life.



38.  Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.

39. You cannot change what you refuse to  confront.

40. Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness. Let it go. 

41. A problem is a chance for you to learn. 

42. When other people treat you poorly, keep being you. Don't let someone else's bitterness change the nice person in you.  

43. No matter how cautiously you choose your words, someone will always twist them around and misinterpret what you say.
 
44. Forgiveness is one of the primary keys to happiness.
 
45. Feelings, good and bad, always come and go. You don't need to pretend you're happy if you're not.
 
46. What Sussie says about Sally says more about Sussie than Sally.
 
47. When you spend time worrying, you're simply using your imagination to create things you don't want.
 
48. No matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be. Either you succeed or you learn something.
 
49. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.


50. Practice yourself to not be resentful — it's all about perspective.

I hope you had a chance to reflect on these reminders. Never allow your inner demons to control your happy life and turn it to hatred and bitterness. 

I remember what my bff has told me, "Sometimes, people will just desperately do anything just to try to annoy you. Don't be like them." After he said that, I then realized he's right.

We should not get stuck on the pain that our past has caused us, rather forgive and move forward. At the end of the day, what goes around comes back around.

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