10 Statements That Help Me Navigate Through Life

Life is not always fun. It can get tough. It's real. We all have it. We have bad days. We can make bad decisions and be horrible people, even if it hurts to admit it. But sometimes there's hope. 

And for me, it's these statements that do:

#1: "Choose quality over quantity."

This can apply to many aspects of our lives. Friends, food, books, your Instagram posts. Basically, it's better to have a few real friends than to have a lot of friends that are all fake. What about the time, effort, and energy you put into carefully choosing three of the twenty selfies you took to post for Instagram? Exactly. 

#2: "Don't compare yourself to others."

This one is cliché, but it's very true. To be inspired or motivated by someone else's success is one thing, but calling yourself not good enough because of someone else's success is entirely wrong. People you compare yourself to are not the picture-perfect version you have in your head. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. We have different paths to success. Some of us may go at a slower pace or need more time, and that's 100% okay. 

#3: "Your grades don't define your success."

If you were the person who tried so hard in school but found yourself failing every class, this is for you. 

If you don't get good grades in school, that doesn't make you any less capable than someone who did. Your grades are your academics, and that's just one thing. In real life, academics don't matter as much as you think it will. They are important for colleges or traditional education, but not for your entire life. There are many opportunities, many people, and many experiences to come. Don't be afraid to reach out, seek some guidance, and do some research. 

#4: "People are so quick to point out your failures but not your successes."

First, people pointed out my grades because I did horrible in elementary and middle school. But now, I have As in high school. Now that I have the grades, they turn to something else instead, like how "lazy" I am or that I don't care about my life. It's ridiculous, and this has taught me exactly not to be this person. It's taught me to be a person who sees the good in things. Bad test score? It's just one test, it's not the end of the world. Sad endings? Interesting story and plot. 

#5: "Choose consistency over perfection."

Perfection is our enemy. Sorry to break it to you, but everything is not going to magically go smoothly if you just tell yourself that it will and do nothing about it. If you want to improve and get better, it lies in consistency, and it can look different every day. Want to be more fit? Bad workouts are better than no workouts. Want to read more? 5 pages is better than reading nothing.

#6: "Be yourself."

This is another cliché one yet a true one. When we start to copy people, we lose our self-identity and sense of originality. I mean, would you even feel happy if you forced yourself to do something you don't want to do? Would you feel happy if you went clubbing when all you really wanted was to spend time with your dog and bake cookies? No, I don't think so. Who cares if everyone else is partying? 

#7: "Think before you speak."

Words can hurt. One harmful sentence you say to someone may stick with that person forever. It might not ever leave them, even when they heal. 

Imagine this: Tear a piece of paper. Is it still there? Yes. But the paper doesn't look the same as it did before. After you hurt someone, they're not the same person as they were before. 

#8: "You can't choose when and when not to like someone's traits."

Family and friends are everything. Especially all of their unique qualities that we love. However, it's not love if you like a trait they have only when it benefits you. That's called convenience (and selfishness). Let's say the person's trait is attention to detail. You may love it when the person makes sure that their homemade gift is spotless. Other times, the scenario could be that the person is trying to find the right nail color. Does it benefit you? No. But you should still love it even when it requires patience. 

#9: "Listen when others are speaking."

Being able to listen and not interrupt is a skill we all need to have, no matter who you are. It's hard not to assume that the other person is wrong, but being defensive and impatient is a sign of ignorance and a high ego. Don't be like that. Please care about other people's opinions and what they have to say. It could deepen your relationships. 

#10: "We learn and grow every day."

And no, I don't mean growing taller physically. I mean growing as a person. It seems stupid right off the bat, but think about it: do we ever stop learning? I don't mean in school, but I mean in real life. We only have one life to live, and I guarantee you that you are not going to learn everything in one life. No one is perfect. There are no exceptions to this quote, which makes it especially valuable. 

I even learned one life lesson today: Coming up with 10 statements that I use in my daily life is not easy (it's actually not, you should try it).