Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you are having a heart full of gratefulness tonight as you eat with your loved ones. And let us not forget the reason of the season.

The secret is to not care of things that don’t matter.

It will make you less stressed.

Focus on important things.

most of the time we think things as impossible.

but they are not.

we just have to try.

then try again.

and again.

and again.

do not give up on yourself.

keep trying.

Have you been in a constant state of worrying the past days because you think you are a failure or destined to fail?

These emotions are valid. Acknowledge it.

But, try to calm yourself and remember that you have to live your life the way the universe engineered you. You are destined to flourish. Give your best and see where the waves will take you.

Switch perspective. Imagine that in the end we will all die and our anxieties and worries will be pointless. Enjoy life!

While writing this I am very very sleepy!

But, this will be one of the most peaceful sleep I will have compared to weeks ago. I was not able to tick off all my to-dos but I feel like I resisted a lot of temptations today and gave my better version on the things I have in my plate.

It is so rewarding to end the day with progress made with all the energy you have for the day.

I guess I will sleep peacefully knowing that I did my best today. I hope you would as well.

I was feeling homesick the past two days.

I was sad. I cried. And it is ok.

It is normal to feel sad. We are human beings capable of having different emotions. Besides, how can you appreciate happiness if you don’t know the feeling of sadness.

Being sad can also be a privelege. I was priveleged to be sad because I was homesick. It was not because my family do not have food the next day nor because I lost a child in a war. It was a privelege to acknowledge that I am sad because I miss home.

It’s a dangerous thing – to be sad and not able to acknowledge it. In this journey of building good habits we may feel sadness as we transition in becoming a better person because we are moving out of our comfort zone. Embrace it. See the beauty in it.

Do you know yourself?

Who else are guilty of buying stuff to feel good after getting super stressed or sad?

They call it retail therapy. A small dose of instant happiness from getting something you like.

I did this for a couple of months because I was sad and stressed. It gave me a ray of hope and small spark of joy. But it only lasted for a day or two. I ended up having to many things that I do not necessarily needed.

Buying things to make us happy is not bad especially if you’ve worked hard for it. But, if you are doing this just to alleviate negative emotions, you have to reconsider you purchasing decisions.

A retail therapy is a band-aid solution. It will never cure your wounded soul. Perhaps for quick moment you’d forget that you are hurting but this won’t solve the problem.

We have to understand why we are sad, stressed, or hurting. Acknowledge what we are feeling. Think whether we have control over it or not. Face it. Deal with it. Retail therapy is a form of escape. Stop running away from it. It is there to contribute to your growth. Look at the good side of the situation you are in and have a positive mindset. Not easy but doable.