Words Have Power by Dominique Fields (classic books for 11 year olds txt) 📕

I am in charge of how I feel and today I am choosing happiness. 

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people tell someone to “just get over it” and that “someone out there has it worse.” Somebody else’s struggle does not invalidate your own. No matter the different extremities. So, I don’t want what I say next to be misconstrued. Choose happiness. I feel like that comes at different levels for everyone. I feel that some are really good at faking until they make it. Others have to be at their wit's end for it to click. I was in the middle. I can’t fake it ‘til I make it even if my life depends on it. I also knew that I was going downhill fast. So, I decided to change course. I literally remember telling myself every day for a month or so that I am going to live a life worth living because I only get one. I don’t want to spend it depressed and anxious. I took the time to acknowledge my worries and rationalize all my fears. Today I am much better than I have been in years...all because I chose happiness.

Mistakes and setbacks are stepping stones to my success because I learn from them. 

This goes back to failing. How you fail us all about perception. I choose to believe that I either win or learn. Losing is never an option. Everybody faces mistakes and setbacks but it's how you use those challenges to push forward to your success. There is a lesson in every failure. Embrace it. Learn from your mistakes and setbacks.

When I breathe, I inhale confidence and exhale timidity. 

One thing I started getting into is meditation. Many people who experience anxiety discuss how meditation works positively for them. For the longest time, I avoided meditation because it didn’t work for me. I have a busy mind and busier body parts and I couldn’t sit still long enough or calm my thoughts enough for it to have an effect on me. That is literally the method to meditation. Sucks to be me, right? No one told me it took training. I thought it was supposed to work immediately. I gave it a few more chances and I deeply suggest it, especially in times of irritation. While you do that, make sure to inhale confidence and exhale timidity. 

Life is happening at this moment. 

There was a time when I was just going through life anxious about every part of my future. So worried, in fact, I forgot to focus on my present. At least, I think that’s what it was. I was not too happy with my current reality at the time so maybe that was why I took the focus off it. Regardless, there were great moments and things happening and I was not taking in any of it. I was making myself miss out on good memories because I chose to live in the future. Life is happening in this moment now and you need to make sure you experience it fully. 

I accept and embrace all experiences, even unpleasant ones. 

I am one of those people that when everything is going well, it is going great. When things are bad, they are awful. I had to learn to embrace all stages of life. I am a control freak who cannot control life. It is one, long ongoing anxiety attack. I could not live like that so I had to find another way to cope. Surrendering works well it turns out. I used to get worked up over every single thing. I still do sometimes. But now I pick what is worth going to war for and what lesson needs to be embraced. Embrace all your experiences.

I fill my mind with positive and nourishing thoughts. 

I admit that I have to get better with this. Positive affirmations are a thing. There is this saying that I love. I do not know who said it, but it states, “speak to yourself as if you are talking to someone you love.” It’s simple but impactful. Taking the time to speak healthy energy over yourself can actually manifest physically in your life. It serves as great motivation as well. This especially helps with sudden sadness and esteem issues. Take care of yourself and nourish your thoughts. 

With every breath out, I release stress in my body. 

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. I hope you exhaled stress in those breaths. Before meditation, deep breaths were the way I would cope when I suddenly got overwhelmed. I would count until whenever I felt calm accompanied by deep, slow, calming breaths. Breathe in. Breathe out.

In all that I say and do, I choose peace. 

Everyone finds peace differently. Some find it alone. Some find it with loved ones. Some find it with a hobby. Some find it in all of the above. There are different types of peace. Deciphering that peace is important in how you go about searching for it. I personally prefer solitude. Although, there are some moments that being alone is the absolute last thing I need. It sucks sometimes because the majority of the time I am alone without an option and have to get through my moments all by myself, but it has made me stronger as a woman and as a person. 

I am grounded in the experience of the present moment. 

We only have now. We cannot change