Human behavior is interesting, complex and confusing. We say we want happiness and joy in our lives, yet we manage to continuously poison our minds and well-being with toxic people and situations. We willingly allow negative people and situations into our lives, yet wonder why we aren’t operating at our full capacity. Why do we do this to ourselves?

Because I’m in my early 30’s, people, like my grandmother for example, ask me why I’m still single and when am I going to get married. I politely reply with a nervous laugh and typically word vomit something about not meeting the right person yet. If I’m being honest, I know that part of the reason I’m single is because I’ve allowed myself to be in relationships (romantic and otherwise) with people who simply weren’t good for me. I didn’t realize how negatively they impacted my life until it was too late. I own that. 

I’m not saying we should quit everything and everyone that upsets us. Most things and relationships worth having don’t always come with ease. We can’t abandon people and situations the minute they get difficult or uncomfortable. But why do we remain in situations that we KNOW are bad for us?

So whether it’s that “friend” who constantly makes you feel bad, or the relationship that leaves you in tears every-other day: let it go. If it’s the major that you don’t enjoy and have no interest in, but are pursuing because someone told you to: let that go too.

You have the right to change your mind, and the right to take care of you. If someone or something is robbing you of your joy and your happiness in life, by all means try to fix it. If you can’t, let it go.

I’ve known this for a long time, but putting it into practice has taken nearly 32 years.

About Student Life Spotlight

Over the new few weeks, a different staff member in Student Life will share a piece of themselves with you. They’ll reflect on what’s important to them, and what they believe will help you to make the most of your time at Texas Wesleyan.

No, they won’t be simply pitching their programs and services at you under the guise of a cleverly crafted article, but rather, digging deep to identify what has been most transformative about their experiences in life thus far, and passing that wisdom as best they can on to you.