Is it okay...?

 

A lot of people get all caught up in this idea that everything's gotta be perfect, like failure ain't allowed, and happiness should always be the constant. But let’s be real, that’s just not how life works, is it? It’s more than okay to have days when you’re feeling down, trip up, or just have no idea what’s next. How are we supposed to move forward if we’re out here pretending everything’s fine all the time?

Sure, chasing happiness and success is cool, but you’ve gotta realise those things often come through tough times. Growth happens when you face struggles head-on and use them to level up. If you’re just holding onto that idea of staying positive, you might be missing out on the deeper stuff that actually brings real change.

Take a toxic relationship, for example. Let’s say your partner’s out here messing around, lying, and doing dodgy things, and you’re still hanging on, telling yourself, “It’s gonna get better” or “I’m happy just ‘cause they’re here.” That kind of positivity can drive you mad when nothing’s changing. But if you can actually face the fact that you’re not happy and that the relationship isn’t healthy, you open yourself up to something better. It’s realising those negative things that can be the trigger for change, leading you to better relationships and a better understanding of yourself.

It ain't easy, I won’t lie. You step out of that toxic situation, and yeah, you feel lost, alone, maybe unsure about what comes next. And that’s completely normal. But the minute you walk away from something that’s not doing you any good, you start making space for growth. You learn what to avoid in the future, get sharper with your judgement, and start building resilience. It’s in those dark moments that you really figure out your worth and what you deserve.

Now, picture this: you're broke, jobless, just sitting around thinking, “It’ll all work out.” Keeping a positive mindset is cool, but without action, that mindset’s just gonna drag you deeper. It’s when you realise you’re not cool with where you’re at that change actually begins. That realisation might get you applying for jobs, reaching out to people, or picking up new skills. It’s that discomfort that sparks change, leading to opportunities you might’ve missed otherwise.

Rejection’s part of the game in business. You make the calls, no one picks up, promises get broken, deals fall through. And if you’re just thinking positive without actually figuring out what went wrong, you’re probably missing out on fixing what needs to be fixed. But if you sit with that discomfort and reflect on what happened, it’ll show you what needs changing. And if, after all that, things still aren’t clicking, it’s probably your gut telling you this path ain’t for you. The grind’s all about trusting yourself enough to know when it’s time to switch things up.

Look at the big names, like Bill Gates. Before he was smashing it, he was probably sat there thinking, “I can’t just be another Harvard student,” feeling a bit lost. That discontent drove him to chase something bigger. Same with Cristiano Ronaldo... he didn’t just get to where he is without facing his own struggles. Injuries, setbacks... all of that. But he used it all as fuel to push himself to greatness.

I’m not saying you should just wallow in negativity, nah. What I’m saying is don’t run from it either. Recognise that discomfort’s part of the growth process. Lean into it, learn from it, and use it to push yourself forward. When you let yourself feel all of it, the good and the bad, adapt an understanding of who you are and what you want out of life.

Yeah, it stinks, but it’s like they say... you’ve gotta get rid of the waste from your body. Same thing with life. You’ve gotta go through the ugly stuff, the negativity, the emotional mess, to grow. Just like your body needs to get rid of waste to function, your mind and spirit need to clear out the rubbish to make room for new things. So, don’t shy away from the hard feelings... they’re part of it too.