15 Lessons I Learned From Cutting Myself Off From The World

1. Remaining inside my comfort zone is easier. It is more comfortable. But it is not fulfilling.

2. I cannot wait around for someone to knock on my door or send a text. I am able to send my own text. I am able to walk out my own door. Happiness is not going to be handed to me. I have to reach out and grab it.

3. Doing the same exact thing every single day gets boring. It keeps me stationary. Change is scary — but in order to move forward in life, I need to take more risks. I need to put myself out there.

4. My friends are not obligated to stick with me through my mood swings. I cannot blame them for walking away when I did everything within my power to push them away.

5. There is a difference between living out a fulfilling life and simply existing. Surviving should not be my only goal for the week. There should be more to my life. More passion. More excitement. More involvement.

6. Binge-watching Netflix and scrolling through social media might be able to distract me from the pain for a little while — but not for long.

7. Loneliness is one of the worst feelings in the world. It might even be worse than the awkwardness and embarrassment of leaving the house and interacting with other people.

8. My mental health is a priority. I should start treating it like one.

9. Even the nicest people are capable of hurting me, either intentionally or on accident. But that should not stop me from forming deep connections. That should not encourage me to cut myself off from the world.

10. The little voice in the back of my head is a bigger bully than anyone else. If I can deal with the nasty things my insecurities tell me about myself, I can deal with anything else this world throws at me.

11. Every single day blends together when my routine never changes. The hours drag. It feels like time is moving forward without anything getting accomplished. And that is not the way I want to live.

12. No one else can save me. Not a concerned friend or family member or significant other. I have to want to get better. I have to want to put energy into making a better life for myself.

13. Even though I consider myself a loner, even though I avoid social situations at all costs, I need at least a little social interaction. I need other people. I need to feel a little less alone.

14. Even though my anxiety warns me no one is ever going to love me and no one wants me around, I have worth. I am important. My voice deserves to be heard. I deserve to have friends. I deserve to be loved.

15. Locking myself away is not going to solve my problems. I need to seek help from a professional in order to get better. I need to talk out my feelings and work through them. I need to make an effort.