We all need to prioritize our decisions in life, especially between our wants and our needs. A rash or impulsive decision can negatively affect our overall well-being; therefore, we must exercise self-discipline in our actions and reactions. We must engage in self-care practices regularly, as they help us maintain a healthy balance both mentally and physically. Self-discipline helps us effectively control our behaviors and responses as we engage our thoughts and emotions. The more disciplined we become, the less likely we are to give in to rash impulses or gratuitous behaviors. As we develop a disciplined skillset to enhance our individual lives, we can work towards realistic goals. Our willpower, persistence, and drive will help us channel our self-discipline when making conscious choices in life. Self-control is also beneficial when you are focusing on becoming a self-disciplined individual. Friends and family can guide you as you make better choices; overall,  you alone are still responsible for yourself and the choices you make. When you instill self-disciplined decisions, you are less likely to give in to short-term gratification.  A self-disciplined individual is goal-oriented and will always protect themselves from undue pain and suffering. There is no need to harm oneself if you put yourself first and know what is best for you.

Who or what has had a positive impact on your life? We can be positively impacted by a person, a book, a movie, or even an experience. We can also have a positive impact on society through our actions and deeds. Sometimes our lives can have a profound positive impact when we least expect it. You never know how much life can change, until you have experienced it. We seldom think about the significant impact our teachers, mentors, or even our fellow students have had on us until we have a chance to reflect on it. The same goes for a book or a movie; in that moment, it takes us into another world. As we truly digest the content or the context, it may impact us in ways that are lasting and cherished.  Words of wisdom that are imparted to us by people we respect will be carried on for generations when shared with many. We ourselves may not even realize that we must have a positive impact on someone's life. Let's be honest, how often do we think about whether we've made a difference or if someone has made a difference in our lives? As humans, we are caught up in the next trend or fads of society, and we seldom take the time for meaningful reflection. Only when we pause to reflect can we understand the positive impact that someone or something had on us. It is within our nature to absorb information; however, does everything we absorb actually add value to us? A positive impact, regardless of its origin, will always contribute to our overall growth and development.

During our lifetime we all have learned valuable life lessons from someone or a personal experience. Sometimes, these life lessons can have a profound and meaningful impact on your life, and at times, they can change your life forever. All the lessons you have learned are acquired knowledge that are building blocks to the foundation of the person you will eventually become. You can be young and learn numerous life lessons, or you can be much older and still have room to grow. Life is an ongoing journey of lessons to learn; we need to find value in each one. A life lesson can have such a profound impact on you that it can bring about significant change in your life. Life experiences, whether good or bad, are simply life lessons at a certain moment in time. Sometimes you may not fully understand its purpose, but as time passes, you begin to find value in that experience. The most important realization happens when you truly understand what you have learned from the experience. We all evolve during our growth and development as individuals, what makes us stand apart from our fellow humans is how we apply those lessons in our lives. When we are ready to reflect and learn, we begin to see life in a better light. As we apply life lessons to ourselves and others, we can observe how our lives evolve over time.

As we navigate society, we encounter individuals who are uninformed about medical interventions. Most often, we find these individuals reluctant to take care of themselves, and they often cause more harm to their own well-being. They sometimes ignore medical advice out of fear of the unknown, and they distrust advice for their medical or mental health needs. These individuals are caught in the world of falsehoods and disinformation. As a result, these individuals are putting their health at risk.  It is quite common for them to be blinded by old, unfounded taboos or social media falsehoods. Sometimes it proves extremely difficult to break through to them when trying to help them understand what is best for them. This affects people from all over the world. In strong ethnic cultures, it is easier for them to seek the help of a local shaman, witch doctor, a social media nut, or even a faith healer. We have all met individuals similar to these people, even among our family and friends. I sometimes wonder why some people will ignore the advice of a family member who is a professional in the mental health or medical field. Is it a lack of trust, or mere ignorance, that prevents them from seeking the help they need? I believe they don't see you as a professional; you are only a family member, so they don't listen to you. Working against your best interest, actually does more harm than good. When the situation goes beyond their control, it is often too late for most people. Many find this frequently happening, and regrets often follow the path of self-destruction. As the old saying goes, we are our worst enemies; people's ignorance will only lead them down the wrong path in life.

We have all faced challenges in life at some point. What led us to overcome it? How did we accomplish it? How resilient are we to take on the challenges that we face? I believe that resilience plays a key role in our ability to face challenges. When we are resilient, our inner strength takes control as a taskmaster. Some may feel hopeless when faced with uncertainty, especially when the obstacles seem numerous and overwhelming. Your resilience helps you channel the strength you need to persevere and keep moving forward. We all need encouragement and a strong support system to help us boost our resilience within ourselves.  Honestly,  if we are not resilient, we will not be capable of achieving anything in life. Whether it be education, health, or even business, your resilience acts as your very own superhero, fighting for you. Resilience enables you to adapt to the circumstances you may face, encouraging you to fight back regardless of the adversity you encounter. It will undoubtedly be stressful and challenging, but with the right mindset, you can develop resilience. It helps to focus on present needs and work towards realistic goals for yourself. Overwhelming yourself tends to work against you, so why complicate it further? Just stay focused and engaged. Resilience will give you the ability to keep fighting despite setbacks, while perseverance will help you persist through your challenges without giving up.

Love is the most profound and complex of all human emotions. Love is universal and experienced by all in some shape or form. Love transcends beyond the stereotypical boundaries, of who you love, what you love, and how you love. Sometimes people are blinded by mere infatuations and forget the true meaning of love. The sacred emotions of love catapult you beyond mere desires of human feelings, it transpires our understanding of how we relate to the world. Your love for family, friends, and pets feels like another dimension of an unconditional connection. We've all seen how loving someone or something changes us for the better, and how we express ourselves to those we love. Romantic love that goes beyond just a relationship will propel individuals to seek a deeper connection with the person they love. This is often seen in marriages or relationships that truly stand the test of time and are appreciated by all. Everyone hopes they can sustain and maintain such a love, only to be disappointed when life has other plans. Nonetheless, we all can aspire for such love, and try to fulfill that hope. Love is a truly special human emotion that we all cherish. It requires us to invest our time and effort to sustain that connection for a lifetime, regardless of a specific type of love.  It is in our nature to love another, as it is within our growth and development that we are nurtured to love.

Whether you are religious or spiritual,  we all take comfort in faith. Your faith can rest solely on the divine or just mere faith in oneself, and a combination of both can profoundly impact an individual's life. When we believe in humanity, we want the best for everyone, but humanity has disappointed us over time. Nonetheless, we try to have a positive mindset and hope that life will improve, regardless of where your faith comes from. When our faith is strong, it channels us to do amazing things. It can vary from person to person in how they sustain and maintain their faith. What matters the most is that it is always used for the betterment of self or others. Our trust and confidence in the essence of faith is always tested, and challenged as we navigate this journey we take in life. Whether our focus is solely on divine faith or the general essence of faith, we can all find comfort with the guidance and direction we seek. We can, within ourselves, try to focus our faith with purpose, as we identify our individual needs over our wants in life. I sincerely believe that if you don't have faith in oneself, how can you have faith in anything else? Even God expects us to believe in ourselves.

Our world has a lot of toxic people, even those among our family, friends, and work colleagues. These individuals are constantly negative, and they tend to discourage those around them. Overall, their actions can impede the well-being of those closest to them, destroying relationships and causing harm to many. We all, at some point in time, have met or known a toxic person, and we may have experienced the harsh reality of having a person like that in our lives. They are often full of negativity and discouragement, constantly getting in the way of your potential and well-being.  You can get overwhelmed with just their interactions or their mere appearance in social gatherings. Their bad behavior is always noticeable and unwelcome, and friends and family are constantly disappointed when they are present. Somehow their behavior is tolerated because they are a close family member or friend. Even though we need to address their behavior, we seldom take the steps to act on our instinct for fear of reprisal. It is always important to address the problem and the person directly. Toxic people come in all shapes and forms: the meddler, gossip monger, or the annoying, nosy person.  We all have met them, seen them, and heard their malicious interruptions. Keeping one's distance from toxic people will no doubt be beneficial to one's mental health and well-being.

Do people who bring harm to others deserve forgiveness? Is there forgiveness within us, despite being mistreated or hurt by someone else? People have struggled with this dilemma for ages, especially those who couldn't get past their experiences. I sometimes wonder, if society was all forgiving, what would our world be like? Possibly in a utopian society, we could eliminate the sins in the world, wouldn't that be nice? Throughout our lifetime, we will no doubt struggle to forgive those who hurt us.  Forgiveness is not automatic; it is a process whereby you can develop understanding and build the confidence to forgive. It is a thoughtful and conscious decision to make, to help find salvation when choosing to forgive. When you can acknowledge and process the pain you experienced, then you can unburden yourself from the negative emotions impacting your well-being. An offense caused by a family member or friend can be overwhelming, since it impedes your relationship and trust. One must consider all the factors and the circumstances that led to the offense, and how you are affected by it. Acknowledgement and understanding of both persons involved are key when attaining forgiveness. It takes time to forgive, everyone gets there eventually. It is important to work towards an understanding and get help and guidance if needed. As time passes, and you gain the strength, you will find a way to forgive.

Here’s what I know: that some people find it difficult to empathize with those who are suffering. Considering that there is so much that is happening in our world, like war, famine, and natural disasters, there are still those who don't care, until they are directly impacted themselves. I sincerely believe that a sense of community, and being part of a community enhances our individual personality traits. This will help in our ability to relate to others, which in turn aids in our growth and development. A lack of empathy will hinder our growth and development, and will no doubt impede our ability to relate to other people's life experiences. The lack of empathy is often evident in narcissistic people who care more for themselves and less for others. Empathy is always a positive trait of our humanness. It exemplifies character and our understanding of kindness. Our genetics and the ability to socialize play a key role in developing empathy. Life experiences determine how each of us acquires our ability to empathize with others. We are saddened by someone else's suffering, and we try our best to help in the best way we can if possible. Our world would be a far better place if empathy played a key role in our decision-making. If people can change for the better, and empathy prevails across society, we will no doubt create a better world for everyone.

Perseverance will help you get to the finish line. It does not matter whether you are battling an illness or working towards a goal like succeeding in business, career, or education. It takes hard work and grit to get there, along with a never-give-up attitude. It is important that you set yourself realistic, attainable goals; any goal has to be realistic, and as for attainable, you must work towards it. Persistence helps build character, strength, and promise that will lead to success regardless of how difficult the journey is. Without proper guidance and direction, we will fail to accomplish anything. Perseverance will enable us to achieve the impossible at times, despite the setbacks or challenges along the way. Our individual focus, persistence, and tenacity will help us channel the strength to face the challenges and overcome the obstacles. Perseverance gives credence to our pain and suffering, while our efforts and determination help us challenge ourselves. Acknowledge your circumstances, but don't let yourself be consumed by them. Life sometimes tests us at pivotal moments, how we take on these tests determines our ability to succeed. It is crucial to have faith and belief in oneself, to create a positive mindset to help you conquer the challenges. An individual's personal growth rests on a positive mindset regardless of what they may be experiencing.

Setbacks are part of the journey in life. While some of us experience more than we can cope with, others may experience one or two in their lifetime. We all experience setbacks, whether from health, finances, relationships, or employment. Nonetheless, what we learn from those setbacks prepares us and channels our growth. Setbacks can have a profound impact on your life, as they impede your progress and well-being. Sometimes, it brings about overwhelming stress and anxiety for some; individuals’ coping mechanisms can vary. A setback can help you reassess your life and make the appropriate adjustments to navigate a better path in life. Each of us has different coping mechanisms to deal with life adjustments; it is always important to keep your best interests in mind as you consider everything. At any crucial point in life, it is always up to you to decide on the lessons gained and the best way to move forward. Sometimes setbacks can forever change a person, although not necessarily, considering the change may be for the better. A setback can be a positive turning point in a person's life. If so, take it all in and breathe a sigh of relief, and you may be pleasantly surprised at how the next chapter of life will unfold.