Opinion

I’m gonna start being more assertive – if that’s okay with you. When was the last time you told someone how you really feel? Would it be better for you to speak up or forever hold your peace? Perhaps you stay tight-lipped in order to avoid conflict. Is it safe to share? First and foremost, who is the listener? Sadly, not every family member or friend is able to listen kindly and non-judgmentally. Please do not express vulnerability with people who are repeatedly unsympathetic or insensitive to you.

How do you get through tough times? Perhaps you had a setback at school or work. Then again, without school, it’s really hard to know what day it is. Perhaps you feel pessimistic about your relationship, or put off by a close friend. Do you have life tools to cope with it all? The trouble with troubleshooting is that sometimes trouble shoots back.

Are you afraid of being happy? Do you think that’s an outrageous question? Perhaps if you feel content, you’ve convinced yourself that you are not doing enough. You’ve gotten so used to anxiety and apprehension, that rest and relaxation feel foreign to you.

Wow, that idea started with you feeling scores of enthusiasm and excitement, and now you’re downhearted and dispirited. You just want to quit. I get it. Know this: We humans crave instant gratification. Admit it: We all love fast food. Then again, your fast food can be your last food. And doesn’t food look so much more scrumptious when you’re dieting? Oh, you’re a light eater. As soon as it’s light, you start to eat? But truthfully, when we want something, we want it now.

So, you had a good night’s sleep, but you can’t get yourself out of bed in the morning. Come to think of it, I think I burn about 1,000 calories every time I try to put a fitted sheet back on my bed. Listen, there are many theories about why humans even need to sleep, but we’re pretty sure it’s to charge our phones.

Do you remember to open your mind before you open your mouth? How stubborn and set in your ways are you? Are you receptive to new ideas? Some of us get angry and antagonized when faced with an opposing view. Is that you perhaps? In order to tolerate others’ opinions, you may have to step out of your comfort zone. Well, no need to step so far out of your comfort zone that you forget how to get back.