The Anxious Therapist

Envy is a waste of your time; look around- you already have everything you need. Don’t compare your life to someone else’s. You probably wouldn’t walk a mile in their shoes if they’d let you. And hate? That’s an even bigger waste of time. Life is too short to spend hating anyone.

Regret. Regret is useless, too. You can’t change the circumstances of your past or the outcome they produced. “Make peace with your past so it won’t mess with your present.” Don’t dwell on the “could have, should have, would have”; it’ll eat you alive. You may not be able to change your past, but you can redirect your present for a more desirable future. Don’t settle.

Wherever you go, bring your own sunshine. Smile and wave at strangers and give a deserving person a compliment. You’ll probably never know what one small kind gesture can do for a person, but simple, random acts of kindness seldom go unnoticed. It always seems to work out that the ones who give the most, gain the most.

Things could always be worse. They really could. There are people not around anymore that would attest to that. However bad a situation is, it WILL change. Likewise, be cautious: however good a situation is, it will change. “If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.”

Apologizing for something you’ve done takes more courage than denying the truth. If you feel guilty about something you’ve done, you probably owe someone an apology. If you feel guilty, but don’t think you owe anyone an apology, you’re probably in denial. The upside to guilt is an acknowledgement of wrongdoing. Be weary of the ones who’ve done wrong and feel no guilt. They’re the “repeat offenders.”

Saying “I’m sorry” when you should is probably one of the most freeing expressions. And HOW you apologize to someone says more than the words “I’m sorry.” BUT if you do make the brave decision to apologize, “sorry” means “I won’t do it again.” So, if you apologize, don’t do it again.

“What other people think of you is none of your business.” Not everyone needs to like you. Not everyone will like you. That’s not your problem- it’s theirs. Don’t worry about what others are saying about you behind your back. Just keep doing the right things and eventually those people will find someone else to occupy their minds/time.

“The two most important days in your life are the day you were born… and the day you find out why.” Always remember to smile… the best is yet to come.