When I look back at the worries I once had, they seem so silly now. I almost feel sorry for the version of me who carried so much fear and anxiety. I shouldn’t have been so consumed by the things that once terrified me. Isn’t that the kind of realisation that comes with age? They say we grow wiser as we get older, and I can truly see that now.

Most of the hardships I went through weren’t really battles with the world, but battles between me and my thoughts. If only I had thought the way I do now, many of those experiences wouldn’t have felt so heavy for me or for the people around me.

The influence of society played a huge role too: the pressure to get a job, to get married, to have children, and to look a certain way. Society sets a timeline for everything, as if life should be lived according to a checklist.

I never knew how not to fall into those traps. I wasn’t wise enough back then to think differently. Now I realise that my biggest competitor was my own belief system, my mindset at that time. If I had thought differently, things might have been very different. Relatable, isn’t it?

It’s true for so many of us. Our minds are conditioned by what we see around us. We measure what’s “normal” based on what the majority does. But just because everyone follows a certain path doesn’t mean it’s the right one. Right and wrong are deeply personal; they depend on what feels right for you.

For a long time, I believed that doing things for my peace of mind was selfish. Later, I realised it was just a trap, one designed to keep others comfortable and maintain the illusion of “normalcy”.

That realisation hit me hard. I’ve now decided to choose myself over everything else. I value my peace and freedom more than anything in life. I’ve seen people older and wiser than me who still haven’t reached this kind of clarity, the understanding that putting yourself first isn’t a sin.

I’m a big believer in self-love. If you can’t love yourself, you can’t truly love anyone else. Don’t let anyone convince you that prioritising yourself is selfish; they just haven’t reached that level of understanding yet.

Love yourself. Make yourself a priority. You deserve that peace.