No matter what you do

I have been taught from a young age that everything requires hard work, without hard work, you can't get anywhere in life.

The same goes for education, no, especially education.

Without a proper education,

the paths to a successful future would be limited and not limitless.

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Now brings the question that I pose to you,

why did I choose the picture that I did for this article?

Starting off in a negative context,

what did I hope to gain

from having a bright picture of a person jumping up into the air

or at least pictured with both feet off the ground...?

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It is because,

at the end of the day,

words and statements like the ones that I put in my title and subtitle

are not words that you should pay attention to and keep in your heart.

I am saying this now because I have experienced this;

being trapped by these kinds of statements takes an unimaginable toll on your mental health and the thing is,

you won't notice it unless you take a step back; unless you make the decision to free yourself from this prison.

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Sometimes the intentions behind these words are good and are there to push you beyond your limits,

but the line is vague and really not clear.

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What people don't realize is that these words can easily push someone over the edge instead of beyond their current capabilities.

However, once you know that those words of inadequacy have no grounds,

no solid foundations, or support against you whatsoever,

and that they are just words in and of themselves,

you will be freer than anyone, anything in the universe.

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Usually the words that I have said, "No matter what you do-it will never be enough," are said out of spite.

People are... jealous, and not even moderately jealous.

Jealousy can arise from people for all sorts of reasons,

most of them being unreasonable reasons themselves.

Some would want you to fall down and be unsuccessful in your endeavors because of how they were unsuccessful themselves in their pursuit for something better.

Most, however, are deeply hurt from past experiences

and hold onto a certain image of the past,

directing all of their hate,

bitterness,

and anguish onto you.

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Still, if you can find it in your heart,

forgive them.

If not, then try to forget about them.

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And if that still doesn't work,

distance yourself from them and just focus on yourself.

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At the end of the day,

your life is yours alone and there are no other two ways of looking at it.

The prison of being told that you will never be able to reach your goals is

just but a single shackle.

Once you are free of that shackle,

you can be anything.

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What is most important in life is that you can always move forward.

You can also move backwards,

sideways,

diagonally,

or make cartwheels and somersaults,

but in the end,

moving forward can be the best thing you can do for yourself,

even if it just be a tiny, miniscule amount that others would not be able to see (as far as progress goes),

but I believe that your overall attitude towards life would change and when you are radiating positivity,

others will be able to experience this change, the best change with you.

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Now, life can be full of difficulties

and many things that we plan may not go our way.

We cannot let this deter us and stop us from making progress.

To remain stuck in one place is like being stuck in a prison.

However, by thinking this way,

we would also need to think about the other way,

that this prison is not entirely made by the hands of others.

You cannot disregard what others say entirely.

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You, yourself, have some responsibility in creating and building this prison,

although you may not know it.

Subconsciously, you agree with the words of others and try your best to please them,

only to get a subtle acknowledgement at the very best,

or furrowed eyebrows and/or a disappointed frown telling you to do better next time.

We cannot know for 100% certain that we were put on earth with a purpose

or if anything we do is 100% "right"

or if it's the other way and it's 100% "wrong".

The world is ambiguous and vague.

All we have are facts and numbers and history

that we build upon from the past.

To envision,

to think about the present and future,

that is all up to the imagination

and perhaps some reinvention of past ideas.

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Look past the title,

the caption,

and the images.

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Look past all the labels that society sticks onto you like post-it notes.

Look forward,

look towards the future,

envision yourself being there

and the steps and stairs will start to fall into place along the way.

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Trust.

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Trust in yourself and everything that makes up what you are.

You are you.

You have the ultimate power.

To be free.