Life Lessons | Flaws And All

"Your 20's are your selfish years. Old enough to make the right decisions and young enough to make the wrong ones. Be selfish with your time - travel, explore, fall in and out of love, be ridiculous and silly, stupid and wild. Be 20 something". 

I've been going back and fourth for the past few days about whether to write up this post or not, reason being that it's not fashion related in anyway and it's a bit different from my previous posts. However, I've always told myself that I would use this blog as a platform to express myself fully, and that includes my feelings, good or bad. And in that process hopefully, help and uplift someone else out there. We all need words of encouragement once in a while right? and besides, my blog name is "diary" of an extrovert after all.

Social media has us all wrapped up in this mythical bubble of perfection. Where everyone's lives are sparkly and glittery, when in fact it's the opposite. Everything you see on social media is what others want you to see; don't be fooled by what you read or see. 

One thing most people definitely don't know about me is that I'm sensitive. I take things to heart. An over-thinker. It can literally take me watching or listening to something to feel some type of way and that's exactly what happened when I watched the BBC Three drama 'Murdered By My Boyfriend' (which aired on Monday, 23rd June). It was about domestic abuse and tells the true story of a teenage girl who fell in love with a man she thought was the man of her dreams, who started abusing her not just physically but emotionally too. And despite all her friends and families efforts to help her, she was ultimately brutally murdered by her boyfriend and father of her child. This story was so heartbreaking and emotional and one of the things I took from it was how someone can start to take control of your life, little by little. It really struck a nerve. This is exactly how I've been feeling lately. Like my happiness is controlled by other people. I had "check" myself and ask why I was letting others have so much power... 

For those of you that missed it, click the link below to watch:
Murdered by My Boyfriend

Change is all part of growing up. Different situations with different people force us to change. Change can be good. However, change can be bad. I think when change doesn't feel good, it's time to step outside of yourself, take a look in the mirror and check yourself. Ask yourself whether you're happy with yourself and the person you've chosen to be; not the person you feel like you have to be to appease those around you. Being a "people pleaser" makes you vulnerable of being taken advantage of.

We are all in a daily battle to stay true to ourselves in a world where our smallest actions are judged. And it's so easy to lose yourself sometimes, whether it's in a relationship, friendships or around family. Sometimes to the point of feeling like you don't even know who are anymore. What i've been living by these past few months is eliminating anything in my life, and anyone I deem to threaten my joy. Literally. We're all insecure about something, but that one thing should never be YOU, yourself. You know yourself better than anyone ever will.

Having this much time off Uni, has really forced me to think about all aspects of life such as the past, relationships, work and my career, and what it is I want to get out of life. I've decided to take control of my happiness and not let anyone's opinion of me doubt myself in anyway. Ever.

I came across this photo on Instagram the other day too, and it gave me life. I love quotes and their ability to just change your perspective on things in a positive way.

Mpho x