Pep Talk

A close friend has been going through career issues that have significantly dampened her usually positive and nonchalant outlook. As I gave her my perspective and dose of self-motivation, I realised how much it applied to my own problems as well.

The reality is, it's too easy to be down and depressed, because life is hard to begin with. At the end of the day, however, my life is what I choose to make of it. Do I want to be happy, or sad? Of course, there will always be external factors that influence my mood, but these are beyond my control to begin with. So ultimately, it is my perspective which matters the most.

To some extent, it can be considered a way of self-deluding. But the way I see it, everyone needs some coping mechanisms. There are those who are blessed with the hardwired ability to contemplate less. Well, good for them. But for others, realism can be spiritually destructive and all-consuming. I know it's a precipice of freefall once I let go of my anchor to what's worth living for, and allow myself to step beyond the edge of no return.

So I tell myself that it's okay to be down, but someday, I'll have to learn how to stand up again. Life is too short to be worth being unhappy about, particularly in these best years of my life! I'm still young and able to enjoy life, instead of being bogged down by sadness...

On the days when the going gets hard, when I lose sight of the shore and of life's beauty, I'll return to this and like a mantra, remind myself again and again.