Taking Back Power Over Your Perspective

Many of us often lose grasp of what it means to be an individual living in this great big world. There are so many roles to fill and people to please. Especially as a university student, pressure to succeed and exceed others is everywhere, from parents to society itself. It's when we allow our mindset to mold to these expectations that we lose our power. While it's a difficult journey, freeing your mind from external noise and negativity is a massive step in maintaining a healthy perspective of yourself and the world. You have the power to see what you want to see and be who you want to be.

You're not alone

It's important to acknowledge that there are so many others in the same position as you. This is something I'm constantly reminding myself in every facet of life. Attending UCLA during the pandemic has been a struggle academically, as well as socially. Being stuck at home and practically isolated from my peers, I often feel unmotivated to study and work on assignments. This has led to procrastination, many workless hours, and an overall disappointment in myself – I feel like I'm wasting my days and my potential as a student.

While I could wallow in this self-doubt and helplessness, that's not going to get me anywhere but in a bad mood. What I work on telling myself is that I'm not alone. I am clearly not the only person going through this pandemic and, thus, not the only person to be feeling this way. Countless others are experiencing a lack of drive and are struggling to be the "best" version of themselves.

What I'm trying to get at is that there's no need to be down on yourself over something that is perfectly normal and human. You shouldn't expect yourself to be the same you or a better you than you were in February. It's ok not to be ok – we've all gone through so many life changes that take time and effort to adapt to. When you shift your mindset to acknowledge that you aren't alone in your struggles, it becomes much easier to stay positive and look forward.

Remember your values

Another way I work to regain power over my perspective is by focusing on what I value most. When you focus on irrelevant things, like saying the "wrong" thing and making a bad impression in class, earning a grade lower than expected, or how many extracurriculars your peers are involved in compared to you, you allow your mindset to be clouded by doubt and negativity. But, when you have a clear idea of what you value and wish to give your attention to, many of those little things that once bothered you will lose their importance.

This change in mindset of looking at the bigger picture, rather than the superficial details, is something I'm still working on myself – it takes a lot of time and effort to train your mind to start thinking in a different way. As a student, I often get bogged down by seemingly negative experiences. I'm also a self-proclaimed over thinker – one bad thing happens and it keeps popping back in my head. This is a habit I'm constantly trying to break free from.

When I remind myself of my true, overarching values and that there is more to life than whatever just happened, I get out of that negative headspace. I find it empowering to just not care about things that won't effect me in the long run. It's much healthier to take that negative experience as a learning lesson or even just forget about it completely and continue on in life unshaken. What's amazing about being humans with free will is that we have the power of choice – the power to choose how we respond to situations, what we think about, and how we view the world around us.

...and don't forget your value

Maintaining perspective is not only about how you perceive your life externally, but it's also about how you perceive yourself. If you acknowledge and truly believe that you have value as an individual, no setbacks or obstacles can take that away.

There are many suggested ways to build up your value in your mind. This could mean reciting daily affirmations, writing and reading notes of inspiration on your phone, or watching a Ted Talk or a few. It's easier said than done, but having this sense of self-worth is so important. Just like with everything else I've discussed, I'm also still working to achieve this level of confidence. Maybe we can get there together!

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While I don't necessarily believe everything happens for a reason, I do believe that everything that happens can be turned into a positive. Each moment in life, good or bad, is just another step on your journey. When you shift your mindset to recognize that your experiences are valid and what you make of them, you take back power over your perspective.

Talk to you next time,

Sara :)