Anaïs Nin, From “The Diary Of Anaïs Nin, Vol. 3: 1939-1944”

Things You Don't Comment On:

- someone’s eating habits

- appearance issues that can’t be fixed there and then

- someone else’s “bad” decision if it can’t now be undone

- someone’s laugh or voice

- someone’s “unrealistic” dreams

- someone “not looking their best” in photos

- someone not wanting to do something and trying to subtly avoid it without making a fuss

- anything that you know will make someone self conscious or insecure unnecessarily

If you’re an adult, be your own parent

A very simple yet effective substitute for parental affection and approval is finding those within yourself. I know, this guru-type preaching annoys the crap out of you, but there’s no way of putting it simpler. I guess it can be the final stage of personal individuation/separation, becoming a whole and independent thinking organism (in most situations). When I passed this stage, I was no longer looking for approval and appraisal, critics didn’t make me mad, because I wasn’t a girl trying to please her parents with excellent marks or provoke their anger with smoking. I was an adult, never willing to get back even to my 20’s, when my frontal lobe was far from being in a full swing. Accepting responsibility for your own life also helps raise an inner parent. If you don’t take care of yourself, no one will. You can feel weak for an hour, a day or a week, but things won’t start getting better until you do something. The inner voice that is telling you should quit smoking, cut sugar, wear fair-trade cotton or simply stay true to yourself, is your inner parent, is the essence of you to be cultivated.

- Ana Goldberg on Is It Okay To Not Love Your Parents

The Full Potential Challenge

Ever wonder what your life would be like if you lived up to your full potential? Would your body be healthier? Your skin clearer? Bank account bigger? I think about these things all the time, and, judging my a previous post, you guys do to. Below is a chart designed to help all of us live up to our full potential. I’ve broken it down into time frames to help keep you from getting overwhelmed. Write the chart down and hang it someplace where you can see it all the time. I will be starting this challenge tomorrow, 9/8. I’ll check in with you guys every Sunday to track my progress. I have specific goals in mind for myself, and you guys should make some too! I really want to know how you guys are doing. Tag your progress posts with #sbfpc so I can track it and take a look. Let’s get to it!

EVERY MORNING

Stretch. First thing. Really give your body enough time to wake up. Touch your toes. Roll out your shoulders. Do not hit snooze!

Do your full skincare routine. I have mine detailed here, but do whatever works for you and your complexion. Be gentle and consistent. 

Brush your teeth and floss. I used to be a big floss-skipper too, but you’d be amazed at how dig of a difference it makes. Rinse with a whitening mouthwash. I use one by Crest, and I notice a major difference in my teeth’s overall whiteness in just a few days.

Give yourself enough time to get ready. Whether you’re a wash-and-go kind of girl, or someone who spends an hour doing a full contouring routine before class (and either one is fine!), make sure you aren’t rushing. If you need to wake up a few minutes earlier than normal, so be it. Rushing sets an awful, stressed-out tone for the rest of the day. Allow yourself to be relaxed before taking on the day.

Eat something. I’m not going to say eat a big breakfast, because some people (myself included) just can’t eat in the morning. But you should eat, or at least bring a little something with you to work or school. If you can’t eat a full breakfast, grab a fruit! You won’t be as hungry come lunch time, making you less likely to gorge yourself.

Shower. You can do this at night, in the morning, whatever. Again, this is something you should allow some time for. I don’t wash my hair every day, but I do condition it every day (from the ears down). Scrub yourself with a delicious-smelling body wash. If you shave, make yourself as smooth as a dolphin, dude. If you don’t, then don’t and don’t ever ever ever let anyone make you feel bad or weird about it. When you get out of the shower, wrap yourself in a fluffy towel and totally slather your sexy self with lotion. Top to bottom. Do it as soon as you can post-shower so it can really sink in. 

Put leave-in condition throughout your damp hair and comb it through.

Put on an outfit that makes you feel good! So important!

Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!

Take a look at your daily to-do list. Knock out the most pressing stuff first. Take pride when you cross things off your list.

Make your bed! Oh my god, make your bed. Do it. Do it. Do it. 

EVERY AFTERNOON 

Follow the “touch it once” approach. This is a truly life-changing thing. When a task is in front of you, no matter how big or small, just do it right then and there. How many times have you gotten a work email or homework assignment and thought, “Eh, I’ll do it later”? And then later never comes? Once something pops up, do it once. Squash it and be done. Cross things off your list and feel like a badass.

Try to go for a walk at lunch. Even one little lap around the block or campus will reenergize you like nobody’s business. 

Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!

Be present. This is so hard for me too, but you have to make a major effort to be present in whatever you’re doing. Be engaged and plugged-in and just exist in the moment. Give 100 percent.

Be friendly to friends and strangers. A smile goes a long way.

Eat something. Eat what you packed for lunch (see below) and take a break from working while you do it. You need “you time”!

EVERY EVENING

Take your makeup off as soon as you’re in for the night. Wash your face with your full routine and let your skin have a break. 

Workout. You can also do this in the morning. Whatever works for you. Make a great playlist and go hard af. Get your cardio in. Get your strength training in. Earn every freaking sweat bead forming on your forehead. Earn your shower!

Knock out your homework. Life is infinitely better you don’t have anything hanging over your head. Half the time, the energy and emotion you spent dreading/putting off your work is ten times worse than the work itself.

Make a list of what needs to be done tomorrow. It’ll set you up for success the next day, and you won’t forget anything!

Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!

Lay out your clothes for tomorrow. This will save you SO MUCH TIME in the morning omg I can’t even tell you how important this is.

Eat something great. And once you’ve decided to be done eating for the night, be done. Brush your teeth so you can’t eat again.

After brushing, do a whitening treatment. Whether it’s classic baking soda, a Crest white strip, or a laser. Do something. And floss! Retainers in too, ladies 0:)

Relax! Take a few hours to do what YOU want to do. Scroll through Tumblr, binge on some Netflix, FaceTime gossip with your friends, anything. Do whatever makes you happiest. 

Shut the electronics off an hour before you want to go to bed. Put your phone on sleep mode. If you stare at the screen, it will keep you awake and alert and you won’t be able to fall asleep. A good night’s sleep is crucial for weightless and general happiness lol

Do a quick sweep of your room and see if there’s anything you can put away real quick. A clean space is a happy space.

Crawl into your bed (aren’t you happy you took the time to make it?!) and read a book by lamplight for a while. When you start to feel sleepy, go to sleep. Don’t push it. You kicked ass today and you deserve rest. 

EVERY WEEKEND

Do something with your friends. It just has to be one thing. Even if you’re just hanging out at the coffee shop, spending time with your squad will make you a better, happier person.

Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!

Do something just for you. Set your laptop up in the bathroom and watch a Netflix marathon while you take a bubble bath. Buy an old school bottle of Mr. Bubbles ($3 at Target!) and really just soak. Relax. Light a candle.

Do something creative. You can read a book, write, blog, draw, code, anything. It just has to be something that speaks to your passion.

Track your progress. Just do this once a week so it doesn’t become all-consuming. And remember that non-scale victories are just as important as shedding pounds.

Take the time to be grateful. Tell your friend how much you admire her taste in music. Mention to your mom how much you love her cooking and how happy you are that she takes care of you. Thank your teaching after an especially interesting lecture. When you do something awesome, take a moment to admire yourself. Be grateful for even the little things.

Anything I missed? Reblog + add yours! Don’t forget to tag your progress!

Things I Learned In Research

I only finished my first research project out of many, but I already learned some game-changing things that I wish I knew earlier.

1. It’s okay to mess up. In fact, it should be encouraged (within reason). You learn so many more intimate details about your work from mistakes than from successes. PCRs fail even when you’re careful, and animal models don’t behave like they’re supposed to. Undergrad labs can make you feel stupid when your experiment doesn’t work, but in research, mistakes happen all the time. Document them and learn from them. 

2. There’s a lot of waiting around. Experiments can be slow. Progress in your project can be even slower. Manage your time between experiments so that it’s not wasted; read, write a chapter, scribble some ideas, or just close your eyes and think. All time is valuable. 

3. If you can figure out a new way to do something, do it. There might not be a formal protocol you have to follow. If you think of an efficient way to observe something, go for it. Practice thinking outside the box. 

4. There’s a lot less rules than you think there are. Of course, follow lab safety rules. But the lab is a resource- use it. You don’t have to walk on eggshells somewhere you belong. 

5. Stay true to your findings. This isn’t an undergrad laboratory course. You’re looking at novel stuff here. Don’t play up or fake your data to impress your supervisor. That helps no one- tell it like it is. Believe in your work. 

6. Your lab mates are not here to criticize you. They are your colleagues and mentors- ask them for help if you need it. Your work is important to their work too. You matter just as much as them. 

I can’t possibly list all the things I learned, because this research experience has changed how I think in such integral ways, but here are a few anyway. I’m sure this is only the beginning. 

Feel free to add anything that you learned!

[28/05/13]

are your excuses more important than your dreams?

need to get more motivation for mid-yearlies from somewhere

The Ultimate Law of Assumption Guide 🦋

Mental diet - only thinking thoughts and only having (inner) conversations that align with your desired reality.

How to trust that your negative thoughts are powerless: by understanding that your thoughts would cease to exist without you. You are not your thoughts, rather, you are merely the observer. If you have a negative thought, simply allow yourself to acknowledge its presence. Don’t try to fight it as doing so will only perpetuate it. Distract yourself by doing something you enjoy and it will dissipate in due time.

The psychological lifespan of an emotion is 90 seconds. If you experience a negative thought or emotion beyond this timeframe, you are the sole perpetrator via your thoughts and inner conversations.

Everything you experience is a part of the bridge of events. In the grand scheme of things, your undesirable circumstances are irrelevant. Your desires are a promise and if you truly accepted this, you wouldn’t allow your circumstances to sidetrack you.

Reasons you have yet to receive your desire: 1.) you think you’re keeping a mental diet but you’re still having negative thoughts disguised as imaginary arguments 2.) you’re constantly discussing your undesired circumstances and/or how you don't have your manifestation 3. You’re assuming you’re doing something wrong (always assume you’re doing everything right).

Where you place your attention is where you will see results. Where focus goes, energy flows.

As you--through the medium of imagination--assume a state of consciousness, the state begins to clothe itself in form, but you must be faithful to that state. You cannot oscillate from state to state—you must patiently persist in your desired state until it becomes an objective fact.

Revision: There is no inevitable permanence in anything. The only reason the past and present continue to exist is because they are sustained through your imagining them on some level or another. A radical transformation of life is always possible through man’s revision of the undesirable aspects of it for the past—although it is experienced in this world—dates back to imagination. To revise an undesirable scenario, simply imagine something more magnificent in its place; imagine it as you would have liked it to be for “man and his past are one continuous structure”. “The past and the present form the whole structure of man; they are carrying all of its contents with it. Any alteration of content will result in an alteration in the present and future.” and “If the past is recreated into the present, so will the revised past be recreated into the present.”

In consciousness / imagination, you already have what you want but you must trust in your imagination as it is more real than anything you see without (aka the 3D). Stop looking for evidence in the 3D for the most common cause of failure is failure to live in the end: “If you judge after appearances, you will continue to be enslaved by the evidence of your senses.”. Continue to possess it within and its possession without is inevitable.

Jealousy: Whenever you experience jealousy, remember that another person's success does not equate to your failure or lack. Positive things happening to others should serve as your reminder that good things are also available for you. A success for one person is a success for all as we are all one and connected.

Obsession: obsession is the result of a deep rooted insecurity and/or an overall poor concept of self. If you are obsessive over something--especially a person--you have fallen into the illusion that you must have this thing to be happy. You have forgotten that you are the only one who can create this feeling of fulfillment and happiness for yourself. Identifying what it is you believe your desire will fulfill within you and creating that feeling for yourself will allow your desire to manifest in a swifter and easier manner.

How to become the ideal version of yourself: Ask yourself what that version of you looks like; What do they do? What does their life look like? Now all you must do to become that version of yourself is think like that version.

Your desires are not greater than you. You are the only one who gives your desire purpose / value. Your desire is merely a thing…an inanimate object with no life separate from you. The only reason it seems so elusive is because you have placed it on a pedestal. Take your desire it the pedestal and stop treating it as though it’s greater than you. Your desire would literally cease to exist without you…not the other way around.

Whenever you experience negative thoughts: Remember that you have free will—you can choose to counteract those negative thoughts by choosing positive, constructive thoughts instead.

Stop checking the 3D to see if it’s conforming for when you do this, you’re attempting to change your outer reality instead of persisting in your inner reality. In other words, you’re dwelling in a state of lack rather than a state of wish fulfilled (abundance).

If your desire feels unattainable: if your desire feels unattainable, it’s simply due to your predominant focus being on doubts and failure rather than faith and success. Fortunately, repetition in your desired story can fix this.

Simple way to ignore the 3D: by focusing only on what you want.

What you desire is already done / created / true in another, parallel reality. Hence, you’re not ‘creating’ anything, you’re merely shifting to the reality in which your desire is already a present fact. All you must do to align yourself with your desired reality is mentally live there now .

Stop trying to rationalize everything by worrying about the how. Think only of your end goal and trust that the ‘how’ will work itself out.

Your inner dialogue = affirmations. Affirmations aren’t always prefaced with “I am” for your inner conversations are also affirmations. The inner conversations you’re having with yourself and other people are also reflecting in your outer world.

Quantum physics states that when 2 or more particles (or people) interact, their states remain linked regardless of distance, thus disproving the illusion of separation. Thus, every affirmation regarding your SP must reach them.

If you feel your manifestation is taking too long: your predominant focus is on the lack of your desire (the 3D) rather than its presence (imagination / 4D). Persist in your desired reality within and it has no choice but to appear without.

Despite your persistence, your 3D looks the way it does as a result of the state you fell into for it is merely reflecting your old states (hence, the time lag), but without your awareness, it will cease to be. In other words, refrain from thinking or paying attention to your undesirable circumstances and they will cease to exist. Despite what your 3D may look like now, your new thoughts (state) will shortly catch up.

Because your state produces thoughts in alignment with your desires, use your thoughts as a tool to measure which state you’re predominantly occupying.

Disregard any possibility other than the one you want and believe, no matter what. As long as you allow an alternative outcome to be an option, it will always remain an option. Choose to drive anything other than what you want out of your consciousness and saturate your mind only with that which you desire.

It doesn’t matter how you feel. Keep affirming / visualizing / whichever technique you prefer and your feelings will automatically change for your thoughts create your feelings.

State = thoughts, emotions, beliefs, attitude, reactions, and impulses. To change your state, experience in imagination that which constitutes your desired state.

EIYPO - what you feel and believe to be true about yourself and others will be reflected in those around you. If you feel insignificant and unworthy, people are going to reflect that by treating you as such. This is exactly why you’re encouraged to focus on your self concept rather than SP: when you improve your self concept, everyone (including your SP) will reflect that. If you feel worthy and attractive, your SP has no choice but to reflect that by treating you as such. People are merely messengers revealing to you what you believe to be true about yourself and others. If people are pointing something out, it’s because you are heavily focused on it. Think and speak about yourself in the way you want to be perceived by others.

How to stop waiting / checking for results: Think (affirm) as though your desires were already yours. Your desired reality is the only thing you should be focused on.

The moment you have a desire, it is done. The delay in the outer world is simply the orchestration of the people, places, and things necessary for the realization of your desire.

Once you start feeling natural / nonchalant about your desire, that’s when you know it’s close.

How to get rid of a third party: simply stop thinking about them. What you remove your attention from will eventually dissipate.

Stop giving attention to things you don’t want. If you don’t want it, it doesn’t deserve your time or energy.

How to get rid of resistance: The only way to get rid of resistance is through repetition & persistence in the new story.

By expecting / assuming something, you are only perpetuating it. If you expect / assume people always leave you on read, that will continue to be the case

To change your SP: if you want your SP to change, all you must do is change the way you think of and perceive them. If you’re annoyed with the way your SP constantly ghosts you, stop focusing on the ‘fact’ that they constantly ghost you and instead, focus on the version of them that’s communicative and loving.

How to let go of the old story: stop re-affirming it and stop allowing your old thoughts to creep in.

What to do if you’re not seeing movement: If you’re not seeing any movement, you’re simply focused on the lack of movement. This is a tell-tale sign that you’re living in the 3D (physical, perceivable reality) as opposed to the 4D (imagination).

Consistent thoughts = consistent results. Inconsistent thoughts = inconsistent results.

Think and speak as though you already had your desire and saturate your mind with that story. That should be the dominant, if not only thing, playing in your mind.

As eager as you may be to vent about it, repeating your old story isn’t going to make you feel better, but changing your thoughts to that of the wish fulfilled will.

You’re not creating, attracting, wishing, or hoping for your desire to manifest—you’re simply entering the state / reality in which it’s already a present fact. Every reality already exists now and all you must do to shift to / experience your desired reality is persistently dwell there.

What happens when two people are manifesting the same thing: trust that will win every single time. Your thoughts are the only thing that can allow you to ‘lose’ your desire to someone else.

Why things go ‘backwards’ : The only reason why things may go ‘backwards’ (aka why you’re not seeing progress or why your circumstances may he even worse circumstances than they were before) is because your thoughts and focus aren’t as persistent as they once were—when you were seeing steady progress .

“Die to your former self by yielding to other (favorable) states”. In order ‘die’ to your former self, you must enter a new state of consciousness, which will inevitably result in completely new life circumstances.

Your primary goal when manifesting shouldn’t be to gain something without (the 3D) but for your mental state to be aligned with your end goal. Rather than looking towards the 3D for ‘proof’ or ‘evidence’, you should only be looking within: Are you thoughts in alignment with your end goal? Do your inner conversations match those with the state of the wish fulfilled? Is your dominant focus on your desired reality rather than your current circumstances?

Persistence is the only way to get rid of resistance.

Rather than constantly focusing on the 3D, just persist. It’s okay if you don’t believe it or if the 3D is triggering you, but you must keep going. Remember that the 3D is irrelevant for everything is conforming behind the scenes: “An assumption, though false, if persisted in will harden into fact.”

When a desire comes upon you, immediately accept that it is done. It is already yours and God is nudging you to experience it.

Because the light of God within you is so strong and overpowering, your negative thoughts dislike you as much as you dislike them.

Your negative thoughts only have power over you if you believe them. If you can remain the mere observer of those thoughts and replace them with better, more positive thoughts, they will eventually dwindle and die down. Even if they do resurface, your awareness of who you really are will be so strong that they will no longer bother you.

Persist in reminding yourself that you are God. Anytime you’re feeling down or powerless, ask yourself, “What would God be thinking right now?”, “How would God act?” and do just that. Whatever you affirm to be true for yourself is exactly how your reality will unfold. Until you create a new story for yourself, you will only perpetuate your old, undesirable reality.

What you desire is already yours and there is nothing for you to do but accept your desires. Accept and feel the joy of fulfillment. Because your desires are meant to be, there is no reason to affirm the opposite.

Through your desires, you are able to catch a glimpse into your future that starts the moment you have that desire.

List of products and little tips that have made my skin (and my life) better🌸

(this turned out to be way longer than expected)

*the links show the brands i use but there are cheaper options you can find that work just as well

• tone with thayers witch hazel (rose petal)

• mix one part indian clay (bentonite clay) with two parts apple cider vinegar for the best face mask ever (your face will get a little reddish, but itll go away within 10-15 mins)

• always wear sunblock if you’re going out (even if its a rainy day)

• NEVER use products containing alcohol in your face

• rosehip oil and jojoba oil are really good for fading acne scars and getting rid of acne (they are cheaper dupes for ML miracle serum and Bahi cosmetics sunflower serum which are holy grail // if you do have the money to buy them, do so. but i prefer rosehip and jojoba which you can get at marshalls for like $6 each)

• at night, moisturize face and body with organic shea butter (i dont recommend using it for your face during daytime bc it’ll look too oily, but you do you)

• ^shea butter helps with the appearance of stretch marks (tbh i love my stretch marks, but if you want to fade them a little, mix a little bit of rosehip oil and shea and that should do the trick)

• stop consuming dairy products (once i did, my face cleared up completely.. diet/eating healthy has a huge impact on skin appearance)

• horsetail tea makes your hair look better

• i usually drink unsweetened tea two times a day. almost every tea helps with digestion in my opinion but matcha green tea is the best for digestion and weight loss. (my favorite is hibiscus tea but it has a unique taste so its not for everyone)

• if youre having trouble relaxing or sleeping, drink chamomile tea (again, i rarely add sugar or honey to my teas, but its an adquired taste)

• usually i dont eat before going to bed (at least 2 hours before)

• drink water (everybody says to drink water, but trust me, its the best tip)

• detox water is a god send if you dont like drinking plain water

• exercise 3-4 days a week at least (if you can’t/don’t want to do hardcore exercises just take a walk around the park. just dont be sedentary)

• i am not a breakfast person, so i usually make dairy free shakes (if you want the recipes comment or send me an ask)

• invest in a juicer and make your own natural juices (stop buying those pausterized shit juices that barely keep their nutrients / natural juices help with digestion)

• s t o p eating fast foods. just don’t.

• i exfoliate once a week, usually sundays, with a sugar/salt/coffee scrub depending on what my skin needs. the rest of the week i use a konjac sponge to cleanse my face

• try to change your deodorant to an aluminum free one (the one i used was discountinued.. when i find a good one ill link it here)

• buy a sleeping mask (idk why but i sleep better when i use it + i dont get eyebags)

• for hair mask i use olive oil or avocado oil (i rarely use it more than once every three weeks)

• dry feet? (at night, coat them with shea butter and put socks on) (i literally hate how disgusting it feels but its so worth it in the mornings)

• for hair growth people usually recommend biotin but for some reason everytime i take biotin pills i get really bad acne so id rather use castor oil on my scalp and eyebrows (many say to put it on your eyelashes and it probably works but i dont use it bc i dont want it to be that close to my eyeball but thats just me)

• always exfoliate before shaving your legs (i make my own scrub, again if you want the recipe just ask)

• i stopped drinking coffee (im not sure wether it had an impact on my skin, but i had a strong dependence and addiction to it so i just stopped)

• dont drink sodas or coke or sprite or whatever. stick to water and organic/natural juices.

• sometimes when i wash my hair, i add a serum before brushing it, and add perfume to my hairbrush before detangling. (i love doing this but my hair gets dry whenever i do. so i always do the serum but alternate the perfume thing)

• for the love of god. scrub your lips if you have them chapped and are going to use a matte lipstick. chapped lips + matte lipstick = repulsiveness at its finest

• i stay away from heating products. i rarely iron my hair more than two times a year. embrace your natural hair. or don’t. (its up to you, but if you do, do it bc YOU want to, not bc you think its what others will like)

• i always put on mascara. even if i dont use any more makeup. im a sucker for long eyelashes. (i use the lengthening mascara from 100% pure. i love love love it.)

• i always shower with hot water but i recently read that if you feel light headed after, its bc your blood pressure dropped. (idk i need to research, but showering with hot water relaxes the fuck out of me)

• sleep at least 8 hours

• i mentioned exercising before, but if you can, do so in the morning (i feel way more energized through out the day)

• eating healthier has helped with my menstrual cramps. honest to god, just eat cleaner, exercise and masturbate while on your period. (these are the only things that make me feel better on those days of the month)

• take nudes whenever youre feeling yourself. even if theyre just for you. (always boosts my self esteem)

• tea tree oil as a spot treatment (if you have sensitive skin dont use it)

•^ if you have smelly feet, combine tea tree oil with shea butter and coat your feet at night

• have a “me” day (have a diy spa, go out shopping, reread your favorite book, go to the beach… do something that makes you happy and relaxed at least twice a week)

• i always do a wall sit while i brush my teeth

• always floss. please.

• for teeth whitening i use baking soda but it makes my gums very sensitive (charcoal and the coconut oil pulling method didnt work for me, but everyones different so give it a try)

• throw out your scale

• you don’t have to keep your nails painted 24/7 but atleast keep them trimmed so that they look even and clean

• i have a boob routine and a butt routine (comment or ask if you want a separate post on them)

• eat a lot of fruit

• cut out toxic people (this ones for your emotional health. your emotional health is just as important as your physical one)

• have a pussy pouch (my pussy pouch is a bag with all my essentials for when im on my period, agaain if you want a separate post, let me know)

• if you have really bad acne, chance your pillow case every 2-3 days

• love yourself

~~~

let me know if y’all want a part 2 💗

Read this if you want study motivation!

• There’s a reason you’re studying what you’re studying. It’s is fun, it’s enjoyable, it’s something you like. Your studies aren’t a chore, they’re a hobby! Try to see them that way!

• Taking notes? Yay! Perfect opportunity to let your creativity flow! Now, you don’t have to have a journal you make super fancy, handwritten, colour coded notes in (don’t get me wrong, I love those, and bless the people who post pictures of theirs but grr! it’d just take me too much time!) - you can create a Google Docs document and use some fun fonts and add some pretty aesthetic pictures! Works just as well! And it’s fun!

• No matter how you’ve decided to be creative, the act of creativity itself will give you both a sense of accomplishment and of purpose (which is something I - and I suspect quite a few other people - struggle with sometimes). Yeah, it might take up a little bit of your time, but it’s totally worth it long-term because once you’re done you have a super pretty document/journal that will up the ~vibe~ every time you sit down to study! Besides, it’s totally up to you how much time you want to spend on your little project.

• The excitement you feel when you encounter the stuff you’ve learned out in the real world is amazing. I still remember when I was twelve and a friend and I were baking and were overjoyed about being able to say “hey, this is an emulsion! this is what we talked about in chemistry!” and oh my god you feel so nerdy and so smart and happy and it’s great.

• Studying really gives you a way of seeing life in a new light. It makes you so much more appreciative of the little things. If you study biology you’ll suddenly think about vacuoles when you’re watering your plants, study prejudice and racism and you’ll suddenly be able to tell when someone’s being an ass and have the tools to call them out on it like a boss, study psychology and chuckle at the cheesy commercial using psychologically appealing colours to try to get you to buy things, study geology and smile because now you’re able to tell that “that’s metamorphic rock”. Be nerdy and suddenly the world is filled with wonders.

• Getting started is one of the most difficult steps. Or rather, that period of time right after you’ve gotten started when you get to the point of “oh, I don’t immediately know everything there is to know in this field. hm.” or “what do you mean I won’t establish my own superior drawing style after just one drawing”. Many of us want things to flow when we learn. We don’t want it to be too difficult, or take up too much time and effort, or require too much dedication. We’d rather skip the step of having to learn how to ride the bike because, well, it’s annoying and kinda boring, and rather head straight to the part where we zoom down a hill like it’s the most natural thing in the world. I’m so sorry to break this to you, but you’re gonna have to know how to maneuver the thing before you reach the “wind in my hair” phase.

• How do you make it through the boring and annoying stuff then? I’d say focus on the very things I’ve written about in this post. Focus on why you decided to try the thing out in the first place; what was it that pulled you in? What goals do you want to reach? Focus on the fact that this is something you want to do - like to do! - and not something you have to do. Focus on appreciating the things you learn rather than solely focusing on what you haven’t learnt yet; take that newfound knowledge and rant to a friend, rant to your family, rant on your tumblr or in your journal. You know stuff! You’ve learnt stuff! How amazing is that?! 

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