So here's something I have found to be true in 99% of cases. It will make me sound uncaring of other people's problems I suppose, but then again we all have problems, and what I'm about to say is related only to sort of pathetic problems.
Ready? This may blow some of your minds, and will definitely anger some of you. Here goes though... If everyone out there thinks there's something wrong with you, if everyone disagrees with you, it's not that they don't understand you or they don't accept you. They're right. You're the one who's wrong.
Let me clarify a bit here. I'm not talking about those of you in high school. If you have half a brain, in a few years you'll realize that nothing that happens in those stupid high school social cliques is important. So I'm not talking about people who make fun of you at school.
Mainly I'm talking about the 25 or older single people living in their parents basement, refusing to bathe properly, refusing to do anything to better their situation, refusing to simply go out there and have a social interaction, and yet who, for some reason, claim it's the rest of the world who's got the problem, not them. Let me let you in on a little secret. You're not some special little flower that, with a little understanding, would bring joy to everyone you meet. No, you're the same collection of raw materials all of us are made of. I'm not sure that you've noticed, but if you look outside of that little box you consider your life, you'll realize that there are people out there, made the exact same way you were, who live their lives and get out and meet people and improve their lot in life every day.
The self esteem movement was one of the worst catastrophes of last century. Even the psychologists who preached it have realized now that it ruined entire generations. Do you know why? Because when you hand a child a trophy just for participating in something, to keep his or her self esteem up, they learn something awful. Something that hinders them. It teaches them that it doesn't really matter how hard you try, it'll all work out anyway. So forget about going out and getting a job at 16, if you wait around long enough, something will fall into your lap. If you get a job, forget about working hard and driving yourself, those promotions will just stack up. They'll just throw money at you, simply for showing up! This sort of thinking is a disease. My entire generation is affected with it. Entitled, the whole lot of them, except for the few who were raised just a bit differently. Who raise themselves up by the skin of their teeth. Who don't rely on Mommy and Daddy to pay for school, who work every day, studying, working, earning money and knowledge by the sweat of their brow. That is the path to success. This world has no time for those who refuse to have ambition. They are the grit in the gears of success.
Stop expecting things to fall into place for you. As far as that part of your life goes, there is no destiny. You're the same as the rest of us. Go out and become something, do something with your life. Quit feeling entitled. Choose a goal and stick to it. No, you know what? Pick two goals, and stick to them. One to change your life, to improve your lot, and one to make you more interesting. Pick something to learn, something that makes you a better person. Learn an instrument, a second language, take night classes to learn a trade, anything that makes you better. As far as the life changing one goes, strive for a promotion at work, finally get serious about having a real relationship, or at the very least, get your own place.
You are a collection of atoms, a petri dish of genetic material, a blank slate. Your genetics tell you how intelligent, good looking, and healthy you will be to a certain extent, but that's about all you're entitled to. And don't give me that whole "way I was raised" excuse; plenty of people have risen above a horrible upbringing. What this all means, though, is that we, as humans, are defined simply by the things we do. We are not defined by what might have been, what should have been. We are defined by what is, what we accomplish. That's terrifying and wonderful all at the same time. That means, if your life is going nowhere, it's your fault. Not anyone else's. Yours. But there's a flipside to that. Once you realize this, that you can change who you are for the better, then you can improve your entire life. You can have a successful existence.
I'm not saying have a lot of money or business success. I'm saying become truly happy within yourself. Cut your hair, take a shower, slap on some cologne or perfume, smear on some zit cream, wash your clothes, iron your clothes, quit writing fan fiction and get out and make something of yourself. Just be a successful human being. That's the key to true high self esteem. Being satisfied with who you are. Truly satisfied. Not just the lie about being happy so you can keep from hurting yourself. Become a full person, and you won't need the false accolades and the approval of the world. You provide your own self esteem. Hence "self".
"They don't understand me"... Four of the most problematic words in the world.
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