Don’t waste your time chasing after a boy who is never going to feel the same way about you. Don’t waste your energy on one-sided love. There is no sense in lowering your standards to make room for someone who does not care about you nearly as much as you care about him.
You should not be the only person liking statuses or sending first texts or planning hangout sessions in your apartment. You should never feel like you have to do those things otherwise you will never hear from that person again. You should feel confident they love having you in their life — or what is the point? Why would you want to be around them?
As much as you would love to enter a relationship, as hard as your heart is beating for a companion, you have to remember that you should not chase boys who are not worth a second of your time. Chase happiness instead.
You might think he is going to be the source of your happiness, that dating him is the only way you are going to feel your lips break into a smile, but you are wrong. There are so many things that will bring you fulfillment aside from relationships.
Chasing happiness means pursing your passions, regardless of how long it might take you to reach your destination. Even though it might take you years to find success, that should not matter. If you are doing something you truly love, then you will not mind putting in the work. You will be having a good time even when you are stressing.
Chasing happiness means making it through your rough days without losing faith. It means enduring hurtful situations and coming out on the other side even stronger (even if you feel weaker). It means refusing to let your past tear you down because you know you have a bright future ahead of you. It means deciding that you are worthy of everything you have been daydreaming about, even if your exes and fake friends are trying to convince you otherwise.
Chasing happiness means recognizing the difference between what would make you happy and what would make others happy. It means having an opinion of your own instead of blindly following the people surrounding you. It means asserting your independence, even though some people will not be happy about the way you are acting.
Chasing happiness means choosing yourself. It means deciding to turn down the offer to get drinks with friends and staying home instead because you are absolutely exhausted. It means removing toxic beings from your circle instead of allowing them to float through your world freely. It means placing your happiness before everyone else, because as much as you love them, you understand that you are your first priority.
And yes, when someone is worth the effort, if someone gives you as much respect as you have been giving them, then chasing happiness means putting in effort from your side too. It means fighting for the relationship. It means giving love a chance.
By Holly Riordan for ThoughtCatalog