Have you been struggling to think positively and look forward to the future? You’re not alone. The stress and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has been traumatic for many young people. While it’s important to give yourself time to grieve and cope with the changes, there are also many reasons to be hopeful about what’s to come. Here are 5 of our favourites.

It’s what you’re growing toward

Did you know that diamonds form under immense pressure, over a long period of time? Well, people are very much the same. We begin young and inexperienced. But as life goes on, more and more challenges and responsibilities come our way, some of which can be incredibly stressful and painful. If you’re going through this at the moment, remember that these tough times are preparing you for your future, and making you stronger so that you can eventually shine.

It’s full of opportunity

Are you feeling fearful of the future, because you don’t know what lies ahead? Just because you don’t know what’s to come doesn’t mean that it’ll be negative. In fact, chances are that your future will be full of opportunities and awesome experiences that are beyond what you can imagine. So the next time you’re feeling fear of the future, change that feeling to excitement instead.

You’re working for it

Whether you’re in school, at varsity or you’ve just entered the working world, we know that you’re a hard worker who cares about doing well in everything you put your mind toward. While the work you’re doing now may not feel like it’s taking you anywhere, zoom out a little bit and you’ll see that you’re laying the foundation for a bright future. Creating the life you want to live takes time, but every day you get closer to it and that’s something you shouldn’t forget.

It’s a fresh start

It’s never too late to start again, even after you’ve gone through a tough time. Your future gives you more than enough time to start, fail, dust yourself off and try once again. Your future will be your opportunity to re-invent yourself and your life in the way you’d like it to be. Even if this doesn’t seem possible at the moment, in the future you’ll have the independence to make it happen.

It’s on its way

The period you’re going through now may be painful, but the good news is that it won’t last forever (even though it can feel that way sometimes). The future is on its way, and it’s ready to bring you better days. Until it comes, you can take this time to learn, grow and [practice some self-care]http://cellcgirl.co.za/post/466) to keep your spirits high.

Writer and poet, Suzy Kassem, once said that “Sometimes we have to soak ourselves in the tears and fears of the past to water our future gardens.”. So just because your present is challenging, doesn’t mean that your future can’t be happy. Remember that you have the strength to get through difficult times, and that your future is waiting to bring you amazing things.

If you ever need to chat to us about any challenge or feeling you’re experiencing, send us a message on AskCellCgirl- it’s free, completely private and we’d love to connect with you!