Living in the now used to be my biggest struggle. Reminiscing about my past and my choices often took me to a dark place. The truth is, the past is already written because it already happened. My thoughts were filled with shame and guilt for my mistakes, and I began to believe that I wasn’t good enough because of them. My present reality became a reflection of my past because I was still holding on to my old self. Sometimes, we cling to what’s familiar because it feels safe, even when it keeps us stuck.
Since I thought so negatively of myself, I constantly compared my life to others and accepted the false belief that I wasn’t good enough. I made this belief real by doubting myself and giving up whenever things felt unfamiliar. For months, I isolated myself in my room, scrolling on my phone all day, watching others live their lives while I felt sorry for myself. My phone became my escape from the present moment. I was in such a low place mentally that my anxiety worsened. I was living in the past, avoiding the present, and obsessing over what could have been.
Being fixated on what you don’t have prevents you from moving forward. It gives your mind power to remind you that someone else is living the life you want. My mindset began to shift when I started noticing and appreciating the little things around me. I began working on myself through morning affirmations and self-investment. I grew grateful for my journey, realizing how much beauty exists in the present.
I had downloaded the Gratitude app about a year ago but never really used it until this new chapter of my life. Once I started, the daily prompts helped me pause and reflect. Taking time to stop and remind myself of my blessings helped me grow and heal. My perspective on difficult moments changed too. I no longer felt ashamed of them; instead, I became thankful for them because they remind me of how far I’ve come.
I’ve learned to detach from my past self and live in the present moment. Gratitude has become my way of life. Of course, there are still days when feeling grateful seems hard—but that’s the beauty of being human. The low moments remind us how much we’ve evolved and how far we’ve grown.
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