Aracylis R.
Photography by Jerry Stamatelatos
If you’re reading this, remind yourself of the positives!
As an anxious individual, I spend a lot of time ruminating on horrible outcomes to events of a lesser magnitude. One bad grade must mean I’m a failure. Getting questions wrong in my MCAT prep means I’ll never be a doctor. A few minutes left on delivered must mean I’m not interesting or worth my friends’ time.
Sometimes these very exaggerated thoughts lead to self-destructive tendencies, like texting my friends less or approaching MCAT questions less strategically. I’ve learned that it is easy to enter a doomed mindset, but so incredibly difficult to leave one. When you think negatively about yourself and your success, you start to believe that you can’t find your way back to the right path.
Maybe, if you’re like me, giving up feels better than experiencing the discomfort of failing at something. But that feeling is only as prominent and scary as it is because I allow myself to ruminate and stay in that negativity. When I flip the script and focus on the positives in my life, there is a huge difference in my willingness to try.
With the state of our world today especially, putting in effort can feel like throwing my fate into a void—like my effort won’t amount to anything in the end. But when I spend time with my friends, my sister, my cats, or a good book, I start seeing things differently. I feel hopeful because, in these moments, I am reminded that I am surrounded by people and things that matter to me.
Maybe I did poorly on an exam, but I also scored higher on my second practice MCAT than my first, and even higher on the third. I may have been rejected from a job, but I also started a book club with my friends and finally understood electrostatics. These may not be equally comparable or huge positives, but the warm feeling I get from knowing that I experienced something good balances out the bad and pushes me to do better.
Focusing on the aspects of my life that bring me joy makes me excited for the future. I’m looking forward to playing new games, reading new books, eating the same breakfast, cracking new jokes. Life may not follow the path you envision in your mind, but there is so much to be grateful for. You woke up today. You’re alive, breathing, able to experience a new day. The sun is still shining, and the birds are still singing.
Positives may look different for you, but whatever in your life makes the days seem brighter, hold onto that when you feel the doom creeping up.
This is not a way of completely ignoring negativity in your life or in the world. If you can make meaningful change in your life, then put effort into solving a problem. Issues in the world may seem too big, and you shouldn’t burden yourself with solving them alone, but do what is within your power and what will not consistently drain you.
Remind yourself of the love surrounding you and allow yourself to believe that, despite the negativity that challenges you, you are on the right path and your future is worth fighting for! Keep a positive mindset and live happier!
Aracylis R., New York University
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