The other day I was scrolling down my Instagram, and I saw the post, “Constantly torn between ‘if it’s meant to be, it will be,’ and ‘if you want it, go get it.’”
If this quote does not describe the everyday struggle, I do not know what does. It especially speaks volumes in the world of relationships.
There comes a time with that person you like, where you decide whether or not you put yourself out there or you just let it be.
Over time we have become complacent with just letting it be because in the situations we did put ourselves out there, we got screwed over. So, we find ourselves more often than none reflecting on what could have been.
With that, I would venture to say both parts of the quotes are true. If you want it, go for it, and if it is meant to be, it will be.
However, this does not mean if we go for it, and it does not happen, keep forcing the wrong puzzle pieces.
Sometimes, it’s hard for us to distinguish the difference between us wanting something and us tricking ourselves to believe that we need something, so I would also add to this quote, “let it go.”
Letting go of a relationship that is obviously detrimental to you does not make you weak.
Sometimes, we hold on because it has become a trend to be a “ride or die.” If someone truly cares, the dying part should not be an option.
We glorify the idea of having a relationship full of suffering and pain because we believe that overcoming is the only way to achieve strength. Instagram captions read, “We argue and fight all the time, but I can not imagine going through hell with anyone else.”
You should not have to feel pain to know it’s real. Just let it go.
I believe social media has left us feeling empty, and our desire for something to complete that feeling of emptiness has become stronger. Every time we get on the internet, we see a perfect relationship. It has become our “relationship goal” to be those people on Instagram, and these unrealistic goals have left us feeling like we have to hold on to the broken pieces. However, in reality, all we are doing is striving for something that is not meant to be.
The more we are able to live people’s personal lives through social media, the more we are “reminded” how imperfect our lives are. We either start going after this unrealistic standard of perfection, holding on to something that is not worth anything or waiting for this non-existent “Prince Charming” to come around and save us. But we cannot be saved. Neither can we find happiness in an individual who hurts us.
Yes, good things come to those who wait and do not give up on those we love blah blah blah, but are we ready while we are waiting? Is the person we love worth our love?
So if you want it, yes, go get it. Not in the sense that you pursue what you want directly, but you pursue the better you that makes you ready for when you do get it.
Stop sitting around waiting for perfection to fall in your lap while you’re either dating or being the devil’s spawn.
So go for it, and by “it,” I mean a better you.
Stop settling for temporary happiness because you’re unwilling to put in the time to be the person who deserves quality. Our generation has been manipulated by each other into believing that relationships have to be crazy, obsessive and needy.
If it’s not meant to be, no amount of pain will make it meant to be, and if you want it, nothing can stop you from having it … except what is meant to be.
Rachel is a sophomore international studies major from Pearl.
