Burn The Past, Explore A Future

Two days ago, I quit my comfy job with no plan. All I knew was that I wanted to escape the monotony of a regular life. I’m not a regular guy — I’m an artist. An artist explores the unknown, sometimes with no sight of repercussions. Impulsive? Yes. But when you realize you are in charge of your destiny, losing comfort for the sake of growth might just be the best thing you ever do in your life.

In a study by the University of Amsterdam titled How We Affect Others When We Show Our Emotions, Gerben A. Van Kleef states:

“Many studies have shown that emotions spread between people.”
The research also shows that being able to recognize others’ emotional expressions — and regulate our own — is crucial for healthy and successful social interactions.

Now, you might tell yourself, it’s okay, I’ll just put up with it and I’ll be fine. But the truth is, the people around you — their personal issues and emotional states — can affect you whether you’re consciously aware of it or not.

We obviously don’t live in a perfect world, and we can’t control other people’s lives. What we can control is who we choose to surround ourselves with. Fear often holds us back from leaving, but by removing yourself, their traumas and insecurities lose their power over you. On the other hand, if those around you are happy, joyful, ambitious, and loving, that emotional energy will rub off on you too.

Yes, in retrospect, those experiences helped me gain a better perspective on life.

I’m still in a process of self-discovery, learning to accept more love into my life. I’m choosing to remove those who bring — in the simplest terms — hate and fear into my space. So far, I feel great about my choice. I feel liberated.

So if you feel this way, stand up for yourself — and leave rooms you no longer align with.