I once had a professor tell me, “In life, you’re going to meet three types of people: The ones who are negative and bring toxicity into your life, and the ones who are like a block of clay and bring nearly nothing into your life, and then the ones who bring positivity and joy into your life. So do what you can to be that person who brings light into this world. We need more of it, and it starts with you, so be kind”.
My life changed the moment that I heard this profound advice.
My professor’s words made me realize that I have the power to make someone’s life better, and all I have to do is be a light.
After all, throughout our lives, we all go through so much. There are days that we love to remember, and there are also days we are quick to forget. We put them behind us and hope to never hear about them again.
Most of the time, though, we don’t realize how much impact we have on others. Our words make a difference — kindness can make someone’s bad day feel better, and cruelty can make a good day much worse. The fact that one person can either make or break your day means that you also have power to influence others.
We need to remember that life is hard, and we all go through things that break us. Sometimes, people will be cruel and betray us. We’re going to make mistakes, and cry, and that’s OK. There will be days where we are going to be screaming at the world, wondering why all this shit has to happen to us and not someone else. And we might also wish that we had the ability to be cruel to others, the same way because the world has been the same way towards us. But we shouldn’t do that.
You can’t let this world make you hard and unkind.
Have your moment. Be upset and throw a fit — it’s not healthy to keep it all in. But, eventually, you have to learn to move past your hardships. I know it’s easier said than done, but don’t let the negativity get to you.
You’ve probably met some of those bitter angry people yourself. They’re the type of people you don’t want around, and once they leave, the tension in the air disappears. You might wonder why they’re so mean and hateful, but you may never know the answers to all of your burning questions. And that’s perfectly alright.
But even though you may not fully understand what made these people so cold-hearted, don’t let them influence your attitude. Don’t let their mindset become your mindset.
Don’t let them dim the light inside of you.
People will try to stop you from shining. They might do everything they can to make you miserable because some people just can’t stand to see others happy. But there’s nothing wrong with being the light in a world full of darkness.
So continue to smile, laugh, and enjoy your life, but most importantly, be kind. Be the person you needed when you went through hard times. Show others that you’re a positive presence in this world. Even if people have let you down in the past, it doesn’t mean you have to do the same. After all, you’re so much better than the people who hurt you because your heart is so kind.
There is so much negativity and hatred in this world. So your positivity will give others a sliver of hope. The people who convince you that you should be mad at the world just want what you have.
Keep this in mind: Wherever this life takes you, it’s never too late to spread positivity and change people’s lives. So if you can’t find the light, be the light.
Featured Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
