Life always has its abrupt twists and turns. What you have now might be gone tomorrow. What you lose today might be yours the other day. This is how it works and you have to accept the fact that stars would not always align for you. Nevertheless, you have to keep moving forward or else this world would beat you.

Now, try to ponder over these seven crucial things I have learned about life:

1. Your every day life must be shielded with wisdom. In this world full of treachery, misery, loneliness, pain, anxiety, and depression, you must be strongly guided by wisdom for it will be your bridge to keep going despite perplexities in life. Whatever you are feeling right now, make sure you have the wisdom to defeat all the negativities and toxicities that surround you. Do not let such things get into you or if these already have got into you, then it’s about time to do your part. If you’re broken, you do not have to stay broken. If you’re in misery, you do not have to stay in misery. You must do something to keep yourself out of that situation and that is when wisdom works on you.

2. Anyone can be your family. I’m not just pertaining to blood-related people here but anyone who was, is, and always will be by your side no matter what happens. It can be your bunch of friends or your colleague. It can be someone older or younger than you. It can be the same age as you. This family is your support group when no one else seems to be there for you. Be it in highest or lowest point of your life, it is there for you. It’s never gone. It doesn’t leave you. It’s ever changing but its direction always goes along with you and it teaches you the right path when you’re already taking the wrong one. It may hurt you, but all for your good sake. Trust me, when everything seems to be shattered, this family is your backbone, your strength and courage in a noisy, chaotic life.

3. It’s inevitable to be in limbo. After graduating college, that is when tons of realities would strike in your life. You experience things that you never imagined of. You see, hear, and feel something that you never wanted to. You are in a complete state of uncertainty in which you don’t even know what you want for yourself and what to do next. You’re not even happy with what’s happening to you. But, let me tell you that it is okay. Don’t stress yourself with the things you don’t have control with. Don’t fret about what if and what could have been. Don’t you ever try to figure everything out. Just go with the flow and do your best and hardest until you’re already cognizant of your dreams to achieve, plans to fulfill, and steps to take. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes because these will lead you to perseverance which will eventually be your key to outdo your confusions in life.

4. You have to be strong for yourself. It may sound cliché but really, you have to be brave enough to fight for yourself because no one else will do it for you. Yes, your family might always be there for you, yet at the end of the day, you only have yourself to rely on. It’s okay to cry yourself to sleep tonight, however you have to brace yourself for another battle tomorrow. There are struggles that you don’t tell anyone, then, be valiant enough to face it all on your own. Don’t be frightened by what people think and say about you as long as you do the right thing to go beyond what needs to be surpassed. Love and value yourself in a way no one does. Others might not see your worth; you might not be as good as they are but that should not be your goal anyway. Your utmost ambition should be a better version of yourself every day. Keep in mind that you must be stronger today than you were yesterday.

5. Taking risks is not bad at all. Sometimes, you have to go out of your comfort zone, try something new, and do the things that scare you. Embrace changes. Climb mountains, dive into ocean or sky, resign from your job if you don’t love what you do anymore, let go of past hurts, meet new people, explore new places, and learn from them. By then, you will discover what you are capable of overcoming and you will realize that every little thing which stressed you out before, no longer matters to you now.

6. Your pace is not someone else’s pace. Take time to do what you want to and to learn what you need to. Don’t let other people tell you what and how to feel. Just because most of your friends are getting married doesn’t mean that you should, too. If they’re already travelling the world and you still can’t, why worry? When they’re paid more than enough in their chosen field, so what? Be patient with yourself. Don’t compare yourself to them for it might only cause you anxiety. Use adversities and pain as your weapons to grow as an individual. You don’t have to rush things. What better way to celebrate life than by enjoying every circumstance that falls in the right time? You don’t force, it just happens gracefully. Surely, time will come when everything that you’ve been dreaming of is finally coming true.

7. Prayer works. God is my greatest Source of wisdom and strength. Had I not believed in Him, I would have not been able to write this. He is my Light in darkness, my Hope in despair, my Buddy in solitude, my Smile in tears, my Happiness in pain, my Assurance in doubt, and my Peace in chaos. This is something intimate and whatever religion you are in, I know you do feel it, too. Isn’t it amazing that by just talking to Him, everything seems to be fine? So, keep on praying and be grateful because He has put exactly where you should be right now. Let Him be part of who and what you are becoming as a person and you will see how great His plans are. Remember that His vision is way better than yours, hence you must be proud.

Life, undeniably, has taught me these things the hard way, but as I always say, one has to keep going. Albeit arduous, life is still a beautiful journey.