Take ownership.
Instead of worrying about your burnt bridges, realize that going back to your old self is no longer an option. In life, it's easy to keep things in our lives when they are well within our comfort zones. It's surprisingly easy to continue carrying dead weight, even when doing so requires us to constantly lie about what's weighing us down. Stop putting up with the wrong things. Not every lifestyle is meant for you, and not every friend has your best interests at heart. If you're in an abusive relationship, it's time to be honest with both yourself and the other person. It's time to put your foot down and say, "I'm done settling." You can't continue to let yourself be abused—being used cannot be an option any longer. If you're in a bad place, you can't keep putting up with it. If you're in a bad place, you have to reject it with every ounce of strength you have, because trust me—it won't go away unless you do.
Settling isn't an option.
Every day, I see people settling. I see people settling for relationships, jobs, and lifestyles. I see people telling themselves and others "this is the last time I put up with this toxicity," or, "I'm going to look for a new job tomorrow." I see people lying through their teeth, because deep down, they know that they'll stay where they're comfortable, even when that comfort is toxic.
Let's face it—growth isn't comfortable. Change isn't easy, and strength is forged in pain. At the end of the day, though, the pain change imparts is nothing compared to the pain of an unfulfilled life. Growth pains are nothing compared to the pain of never reaching your full potential, of looking back and seeing nothing but regret. It's time to be the change. Stop spending your life chasing—instead, attract what you deserve. Change your victim mindset to a growth mindset, because I have some tough news for you—no one is going to save you. You're the only one who can live your dreams, so stop waiting for someone to come along and give you everything you ever wanted—it's time to save yourself instead. Stop letting yourself be used. Instead, use your life to find satisfaction. Take ownership, because you're the only one who can.
You are the only one who can make your dreams a reality. You are the only one who can find your purpose, and you are the only one who can heal yourself enough to find greater strength than you ever knew was possible.
It all starts with you.
