This week we’re exploring how to live a life free from guilt and shame with our “It’s Okay To” series. Here’s part 1 if you missed it. Let’s dive into our second list of reassurances that can help you get your day started on the right foot.
7. It’s okay to be different
Differences can be applied to so many things such as our looks, personality, values, and culture.
Being different is what makes you unique and it should be celebrated and not something we look down upon or make fun of. It is what sets you apart from everyone else.
So rock your own style. Pick out clothes you love, regardless of what everyone else is wearing. Learn how to stop comparing your body to others and celebrate it for what it can do.
Don’t allow society to define beauty for you. What a boring world it would be if we all looked the same, dressed the same, acted the same. The world is a better place because of differences. You. Be. You.
8. It’s okay to ask for help
We all need help at some point in our lives and it should be more normalized in today’s society. There are so many more resources out there than there used to be, but still many are afraid to reach out.
Reaching out for help doesn’t mean you aren’t capable, it just means you recognize you have done the best you can and it is time for someone else to step in and help.
Maybe some may feel unworthy of help or that their problem is too small and other people have bigger problems.
Either way, we all deserve and are worthy of receiving help, no matter the situation. Asking for help is another way to put yourself first and part of self-care. Check out LiveWellNAU for the many resources on our campus for getting help or finding support.
9. It’s okay to show up for yourself
What does showing up for yourself mean? Well maybe it is doing self-care, setting boundaries, taking time for yourself, or maybe it is recognizing your worth and the love you deserve.
This is going to change from person to person, day-to- day but it is a way of being your own biggest supporter. Maybe for you it means not abandoning yourself, not neglecting your wants/needs and being on your side.
10. It’s okay to take a mental health day
As college students, you have busy schedules with work, school, homework, and your social lives. Balancing that can be a struggle and can at times be overwhelming and stressful.
With everything going on all at once, we tend to neglect our own needs at times. You may even feel this pressure to do great in school and work that we end up pushing ourselves too hard which can reach a breaking point.
How can we move forward from that? Well taking a mental health break is a great way to come back to a situation with new motivation, a different perspective, and feeling refreshed.
We all need days to escape the pressures of life. It is okay to take a day for ourselves. It is a part of self-care and we are worthy of a break.
11. It’s okay to be where you are
Maybe you are ready to make a change and maybe you aren’t. Maybe you feel you have your life all together and maybe you don’t.
Whatever stage of life you are in, it is okay to be exactly where you are.
Today’s society drills into our heads that we should always be reaching for more and never content with where we are at or what we have.
We are constantly told to do more, but we all progress at our own speed and everyone has different end goals.
Instead of constantly thinking about the future, stay present in the moment and find ways to experience more joy in the here and now, or to feel your heart ache and pain, if that’s the season you’re in.
Life is an adventure. Don’t be afraid of the ups and downs. Reframe hardships as opportunities for growth. Accept that some days you’ll want to do that growing and some days you’ll want to just survive – and it’s all okay.
12. It’s okay to not be okay
We don’t have to have our lives all figured out no matter what age you are. Life is full of ups and downs and it can be hard to embrace the lows in life.
A lot of times those lows teach us a lot about ourselves.
Maybe you are going through hardships and you feel guilty that you aren’t put together. Maybe you think you need to be strong all the time or maybe you feel alone in that feeling?
We all have experienced not feeling okay even if it is not often talked about and these feelings are all valid and normal. Consider meeting with a counselor to explore how you’re feeling and what you need in this season of your life.
Let’s try to get rid of the stigma behind mental health and our feelings. Everything we feel is valid and should be normalized. We need to tell ourselves that everything is going to be okay. We are strong, capable, and resilient.