What Bravery Looks Like

 I think it's brave when you choose to be in the driver's seat of your own healing journey

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These days, the mantra of the world has been clear: Live slower, go on vacations, and rest as needed. 

It's understandable because of how fast-paced everything is. People with high stress levels or just want a simple life deserve that.

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But what inspires me more are the ones who choose to go in a more happy and balanced direction of life: 

One who lives intentionally, dreams big, works hard but knows one's limitation & pace in movement, helps those in need, engages in community, and actively communicates better to the people they love because relationships (friendships, family, etc) are top priorities for them. 

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Life is a tightrope for everyone. Everyone has struggles they don't share. Everyone carries within them a monologue of "I'm never enough" no matter how big and beautiful their smiles seem to look.

Not everyone gets compassion and love, and it's going to show up by how they behave. 

Photo by Nik Shuliahin 💛💙 on Unsplash

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Bottomline:

It is imperative that, if you want to live a more peaceful life, try and recognize the source of wounds that people show in the behaviors they exhibit. (Mind you that I said 'recognize' and not fix. We don't get to control people. Only ourselves.)

This is where empathy comes in. Not sympathy, not pity: empathy 

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

The reality of life is that you will meet certain people along the way where empathy may not be best extended at all times (this is why you should also have strong boundaries): 

• There are those that chase materialistic or superficial dreams.
• There are those that bend the law by mishandling other people in order to protect what's more important to them.
• There are those that are still figuring out life (I believe this applies to everyone).
• There are those that have closed their hearts.

My wish for everyone is to be a little kinder. Be a little less bitter. Be less controlling or cold. 

Just be who you are without hurting anyone in the process. 

Try to find more quiet places inside of you, so that whatever comes to you externally won't damage your soul, and that you learn to receive life as it is, without the masks of insecurities, trust issues, trauma, guilt or shame.

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I hope, that as life progresses, that you spread goodness, and that you try your best, with intentional words and actions, to treat people right.

It is in the mishandling of our relationships that we see the greatest tragedy to fall on mankind: 

Isolation

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I hope you strive to have more faith, be kinder, more compassionate, and continue to redefine what bravery and courage is: 

that which one chooses to face life head-on in a pace that you can tolerate; 

that which one chooses to wake up everyday with complete faith that everything will be okay.

a selfie I took in my recent trip to Singapore :P

Lastly, I want to offer a LOUD, not so gentle reminder: 

You are enough. You have always been enough. 💗

Sending love,

Belle x