I'll say this right at the start, and it'll be one of the stronger statements that should be taken away from this blog: If everyone focused on being the best versions of themselves, most of the world's problems today wouldn't exist.
Human nature seems to fall back into the form of looking outward instead of inward. What I mean by that, is that we all spend a lot of time looking around at what other people are doing. When we do that, we often lose sight of our own journey. But introspection, not comparison, is the key to a better life. So often, the mentality is "Why is this person doing this?" Or "I can't believe they made that choice!" But in reality, unless it's directly affecting you, does it really matter what someone else chooses to do?
I'm not saying to bury your head in the sand. It's important to be apprised of world events, and to keep a protective and courteous eye on the extremes of those around us. We must watch to see if anyone needs help, and we must make sure nobody is purposefully hurting someone else. But we tend to look down on others as a mechanism to prop up our own lives. But instead of using someone else's doldrums to make ourselves feel better, we should use this time to patch up our own pits of despair.
By focusing on what those around us do, we're not only judging them (often times without knowing their full story), but also adding things to our crowded minds that don't need to be there. Free up space in your mental capacity and your emotions by discarding your over-investment in the wrong areas. Celebrities fighting on Twitter, someone's sexual/gender preferences, or a comment made on a podcast fifteen years ago don't concern you. Take this valuable time to surround yourself with the things and people that make you happy, and work on the things that make you sad.
If every person had as much time and care invested in their own battles and renovations instead of their opinions of other people's inner demons, a lot of the conflicts (locally and abroad) would simply work themselves out. Continue to heal and live your life, better today than you were yesterday. Let your neighbor do the same. Focusing on you can make you feel a whole lot better about the blessings that you have. In doing so, you'll look at the world as a better place as well.
