Those monsters scream at your doorstep during the awakening of storms and although the sun shines once more, some of them enjoyed their stay- they never left.
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This book is primarily consolidated in order to encourage every soul to fight back aga...
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Allow me to share with you the five ingredients for Peace.
It all starts with recognition. Recognizing both your shortcomings and achievements in life is the initial step. From the moment we acknowledge ourselves, we start inviting acceptance and aspiring for growth— and so we do.
The next ingredient would be equally as hard as the first one. You need to obtain acceptance and rightful decision-making. Accepting what we have and what we haven't, and deciding on which star must be reached next—what is it that you need to pursue?
But how would we decide which side to take?
Each story stands on opposite poles and you, being at the center, need to first know which side must be prioritized and given attention. There's no right or wrong— you first decide then make it the right one.
Imagine a seesaw with a choice standing on each end and you, standing at the center.
Remember the rule of choice. One choice will always be heavier than the other and vice versa. The heavier it feels, the more you'll go down, and the lighter one will be lifted farther from the ground.
Brave soul, if you can, always find the middle ground—get sunken and be lifted all at once at a common ground. Keep this in mind, while the heavier choice makes you feel like sinking, it doesn't mean it's a wrong choice to make. Hardships and inevitable.
Above all, always choose what places your heart at peace. This won't fail you.
By all means, heavy-weight choices may sometimes be clothed with grandeur prizes, but at the end of your journey, as you look back, it will always be about those things that made you happy— for happiness is only invited in the presence of peace.
Moving on, don't neglect one of the most valued ingredients, forgiveness. Without this, you'll be creating an unsavory and unappetizing meal for your soul. It will make your tongue go numb until all you can taste is solely bitterness and blandness—it could even be poison if not used properly.
We must learn how to forgive ourselves for not being enough for discontented souls.
Forgive ourselves for feeling exhausted from accommodating the constant demands for the perfection of our imperfect world.
Forgive ourselves for unloving our true selves just to be loved through the attainment of others' expectations.
Forgive ourselves for killing all of our dreams just to fit in.
Forgive ourselves for giving people our hearts only to be stabbed back.
Forgive ourselves for trimming down our self-worth in exchange for sugar-coated acceptance.
Forgive ourselves for all the things we have done for others by neglecting the things that we should have done for ourselves.
And, the list goes on endlessly.
We have considerably asked for forgiveness, and it must always start from within. Only if we forgive ourselves, can we forgive others.
The last ingredient is love.
As you grow bigger, your world tends to become smaller. As you earn another year, you'll start tracing the years you've already consumed. As you shine the brightest, you'll find comfort in the darkness embracing the night. As you get used to radiant days, you'll start thirsting for some rain.
That's the complexity of living— an endless manifestation of chaos and balance.
But always remind yourself that you are loved, cared for, appreciated, and valued.
On your best days, love yourself.
On your most unfortunate days, love yourself.
All the more on the days when you feel like your existence is not as important as the others, consistently choose to love yourself.
Breathe, deep.
You see, just like how the stars are perfectly misplaced in the sky, we will still be able to build our distinct constellations during our grimmest times.
