Make life a mission-not an intermission

How do you maintain equilibrium of self-acceptance versus self-improvement? This is one of the many questions I ask myself every day.

Being a college student can put a great deal of stress and pressure on someone to become a prestigious person after graduation. I catch myself worrying about life in the future when I wish I could just take life one day at a time and only worry about class, going to work and keeping a moderate social life.

As I have grown into more of an adult, I realize that I am beginning to take on a different nature than when I was 12. I remember making mud pies with my neighbor and thinking I would never grow old and have to worry about bills or who I was going to marry and have kids with one day because I simply accepted myself for who I was back then.

Now, all I do is go to school, work and pay bills, and when I go to lay my head down at night, I can�t even sleep because I am still thinking about what else needs to be done.

I hardly take time out for myself anymore because I feel that the slight chance I get to relax is going to take time away from something more important. Yet, in all actuality, taking time out for personal growth is the most important issue.

I know that I cannot go back in time and change what has happened in my past, but if I could for just one second, I feel as if I might accept myself a little more.

On the other hand, I feel that my mistakes have helped me grow mentally and emotionally and helped me realize that I need to improve certain things and aim for the greatest things life has to offer.

Everyone should learn to accept themselves for who they are no matter what. But I also believe that as long as each individual views his or her mistakes as a step towards personal growth, he or she will achieve much more than others in life.

Purely, my point is to never compromise for simply what is there�reach for what is right at the edge of your fingertips�the beauty of becoming a better and more confident individual.

If you find yourself one day worrying about all the things that are going on in your life, take time out and find inner peace because that will be the key to self-acceptance and personal growth. This will also help you reconnect with your past and help you learn from your mistakes and realize what is important to you. Never forget that even though it is a good idea to accept yourself for who you are, faults and all, it is not a bad idea to set goals and aim high for what the future holds.