Brendan R.
Photography by Julia Thompson
If you’re reading this, zoom in and find pride in your everyday accomplishments.
After my sophomore year of college, I hit a low: I dropped out of school, walked away from the sport that had defined me, and lost almost all my friends. I felt alone and unsure what I wanted from my life. Each morning, I woke up with aspirations of who I wanted to become and ideas of what I wanted to do with my life, but I spent the entire day paralyzed by the fear of failure, the fear of not being good enough, and the fear of judgment from those around me. By the end of each day, I was overwhelmed and demoralized as I spent the entire day drowning in my anxiety rather than making any real progress on myself. The self-image I had formed had been shaped by negative thoughts and shame. I was embarrassed of who I was.
After months of repeating this vicious cycle of self-doubt, I decided to ask for help and began therapy. Honestly, it sucked and was difficult at first. It demanded time, patience, and constant self-reflection. However, over time I found the ability to confront my negative self-image and anxiety head on. I learned how to love myself and build on positive thoughts which began with a very simple but profound shift in mindset: I Zoomed In. I simply began focusing on small, achievable goals rather than being overwhelmed by my long-term aspirations.
I started to find happiness in completing minor tasks like finishing a workout or reading a book. I took pride in those small achievements and each small victory reinforced my sense of capability. It reminded me that I can accomplish my goals and replace my negative thoughts with positive ones. By zooming in and focusing on my present self and the things I could accomplish everyday allowed me to create a healthier self-image and put myself on a path toward a future I could be proud of.
Having goals is crucial in life, but they easily can become overwhelming. When they do, Zoom In and find the victories within your everyday life to take pride in. There are countless small victories you can achieve daily, and each one brings you closer to your goals (even if it's as small as brushing your teeth). You can’t get to the finish line of a race without running it, so you might as well learn to love the run one step at a time.
In just a year, I went from losing the sport I love, dropping out of school, and losing most of my friends to transferring to UNC, playing club baseball and meeting some of my closest friends in life. No matter how far it may seem, the person you want to become is within your reach and it starts by zooming in and taking pride in your current self one day at a time. Be proud of who you are and show yourself the love you deserve. I promise, YOU CAN DO IT.
PS. I am proud of you for reading this, you are not alone.
Brendan R., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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