Leave Negativity Behind In 2020

Remember how frustrating it was as a child to build an entire fortress out of blocks or sand, just for someone to knock it all down or for it to be washed away by a wave? All the time spent to create our own image of perfection from scratch went to waste once the infrastructure was dismantled by an unwelcomed force. Years have passed, and our bodies have most certainly matured, but we’ve remained our young and overly ambitious selves. Today, life is the overwhelming structure that we dedicate ourselves to.

We wake up and meticulously place another block in an attempt to create the life that we dreamed of. We make commitments to school and internships in order to establish our careers. We practice our skills until they’re nearly perfect. We promote and invest in our talents. We try to give back as much as we can while also taking the opportunity to indulge in a bit of “me” time. We genuinely give love and pray that it will return to us tenfold.

We manifest greatness and tell ourselves that if we believe, then we will achieve, but there is always negativity lingering around the corner. There is always a tide that comes with threats to wash our fortress away. This antagonist may come in the form of a stranger, but most commonly wears the face of a loved one. Negativity does not discriminate; it has the ability to crush each and every one of us, but only if we allow it to.

In the new year, I want you to remember the days when you had no blocks to build with. Remember the days when you were weak or confused and did not know where to begin to build. Remember the strength you had to foster up to being this challenge that you’ve been gracefully executing. Do not give unwelcome thoughts, opinions, and words the power to knock down the life that you have built for yourself.

Do not allow onlookers, who haven’t walked a day in your shoes, to catapult toxicity into your place of peace.

Come to terms with the reality that not everyone will recognize your willpower, the intensity of your drive, or your resilience. Someone else’s view of you should not have the ability to slow your productivity. In 2020, make yourself unavailable to the negativity. Shield yourself from anything and anyone who is unconstructive to your growth.

Leave negativity on “read,” put yourself on “do not disturb,” and continue to build your fortress in peace.