Finding Light in the Darkness - Page 18 of Chapter 2

I have walked through fire, been shattered and pieced back together, and now I stand here, a testament to resilience and I have something I need to say ....

Every time I log onto social media, I see people drowning in their struggles—chronic illness, mental health battles, financial hardships, heartbreak. These are real, painful experiences, and I don’t diminish anyone’s suffering. But what I do question is the never-ending loop of negativity that some people create, intentionally or not. It’s not just venting. It’s a pattern. A cycle. A trap.

People wake up, log in, and unload their struggles, seeking validation from an audience that is equally exhausted. And instead of healing, they’re met with more despair—comments from others who feel just as lost, trapped in the same downward spiral. Misery loves company, but at what cost? I firmly believe that what we focus on expands. If we spend our days highlighting every single thing that’s wrong, that’s all we’ll see. Our brains are wired to seek out patterns, and if we constantly reinforce negativity, our reality becomes one of suffering.

I’m not saying we should ignore our struggles. Life is hard, and some people genuinely have mountains to climb. But there’s a huge difference between acknowledging hardship and living in it, between processing emotions and feeding into the despair, between venting occasionally and making pain your entire personality. At some point, we have to ask ourselves: What do I gain from this? Does this help me move forward? Am I seeking validation, attention, or an excuse to stay stuck? Have I done anything to change my situation, or am I just complaining about it? And the most important question: If I met someone exactly like me, would I find them uplifting or exhausting?

This might sound harsh, but it’s the truth—no one online is going to fix your life for you. Yes, support networks are valuable. Yes, online friends can be lifelines. But at the end of the day, you are the only one who can change your circumstances, your mindset, and your outlook on life. Therapy isn’t just a suggestion—it’s a tool. Medication isn’t a weakness—it’s a lifeline for many. Boundaries aren’t mean—they’re necessary for healing. And gratitude isn’t toxic positivity—it’s a survival mechanism.

You can be chronically ill and still find moments of joy. You can be mentally struggling and still be grateful for what you have. You can be going through hell and still believe there’s something worth holding on to. But it takes effort. It takes intention. It takes a willingness to stop being a passive observer of your own suffering and start actively working toward something better. I don’t want to scroll through my feed and feel like I’m drowning in everyone else’s misery. I want to see people finding light, even in their darkest moments. Not because life magically got better, but because they made a choice. A choice to be grateful. A choice to seek help. A choice to focus on solutions instead of problems.

So if you’re struggling, take this as a sign. Not to suppress your pain, but to start doing something about it. Find one thing—just one—that brings you joy, and hold onto it. If nothing else, be grateful that you’re still here, because that means you have another chance to change your story. No one is coming to save you. But you? You can save yourself.

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