Don’t Suffer Before You Have To

Hey family!

With the first few weeks of class underway, I’ve had the chance to catch up with some of you and how you’re feeling about this upcoming school year. And boy, it sounded like many of us are waiting for this freight train of a semester to hit us pretty hard. 

I’m seeing many of us on edge, imagining how stressed we’ll be during exam weeks, how tired we’ll start to feel after just a few weeks of early morning classes, or how sad, scared, or embarrassed we’ll feel if we don’t get the grades we desire. 

I’m seeing many of us actively stressing about things that haven’t even happened yet. 

But the reality is that just like no amount of regret can change the past, no amount of anxiety or worry can change the future. The only influence we will ever have is right here in the present moment. All we have is what’s right in front of us, right now. 

So this week, I offer you very, very practical words of advice: don’t suffer before you have to. 

Don’t suffer needlessly. Don’t spend now worrying about later. 

Instead, be fully present for everything you do, take time to appreciate everything you’re grateful for, and celebrate yourself for how you’ve grown. Use the present moment to exercise your right to choose peace over worry, regardless of how daunting a potential obstacle may seem. 

The quote for this week comes from Mark Twain: 

“I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.”

Reflection question: You have a choice, and you only have now. Will you really choose to spend it suffering?