“Yesterday is a history,
Tomorrow is a mystery,
Today is a gift,
That’s why they call it the Present”
- Master Oogway, Kung Fu Panda
April can be a particularly rough month for students. As exam season creeps upon us this month, this timeless quote so wisely said by Master Oogway could not be more true. It can be easy to feel like you’re drowning in assignments, deliverables, final projects, and exams for weeks on end. Not to mention, the pressure of organizing summer plans whether that may be working, studying, travelling, society makes us feel we have to continuously be productive during the summer too. It can all become overwhelming to plan and really tests our mental fitness or ability to cope with stressors. All of this to say, please remember that you are not alone in these feelings, and that it is important to continue trying your best during this time while giving yourself grace. Being able to pursue an education, see the spring flowers bloom, and be so close to finishing another year of study is the gift of the present that is essential to remember. But if things have you down, here are 10 affirmations and reminders to give you the empathy and motivation you may need:
You have come so far, and faced every adversity that has come your way up until this point, you have everything it takes to get through this as well
You are bigger than your fears, stronger than your doubts, and more capable than you could ever imagine
There is truly no such thing as failure, you either win or you learn
Believe you can, and you are halfway there
Even if you go for it and it doesn’t work out, you still win – because you had the guts to head straight into something that frightened you. You have the type of bravery that will take you places, believe in that
Just remember that in a few years, it won’t matter how long it took, you’ll just be glad you did
If you aren’t willing to look like a foolish beginner, you’ll never become a graceful master
Choose to focus on the step in front of you, not the whole staircase
Life is not about getting and having, it is about giving and being
There is not a difficult thing unless you decide it is a difficult thing. Otherwise it is just the next thing you are figuring out.
At the end of the day, what matters is that you tried your best. So whether you have some more exams to go or they are all done, whether you have summer plans or you do not, take a moment to appreciate how far you have come and be present. You should be proud of yourself because I am proud of you! If you find that these quotes and affirmations brought you positivity, perhaps try downloading daily motivational apps such as ThinkUp or Motivate even try using a gratitude journal to work on changing your perspective and strengthen your resiliency to improve your mental wellbeing. Because sometimes all we need is a little reminder.