Hello, questioner!
I'm really grateful to have met you on the Yi Xinli platform!
I'd like to thank the author for being so self-aware and bringing up such an important topic for reflection and awareness.
"Why do I always feel like I can't make any progress in life? Everything's a mess."
This shows that the questioner has already started taking responsibility for their own lives. I'd also like to share my thoughts and ideas for the questioner's reference. Hopefully, you can get out of the "mess" as soon as possible and welcome the "sunny days" that are yours as soon as possible.
Let's start by taking a look at the situation the questioner is describing and then try to understand it better by looking at the six aspects they've highlighted.
After graduation, a lot has happened.
For instance, I didn't pass the postgraduate entrance exam the second time around, I'm in a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend, and I haven't been able to take the relationship to the next level. I'm not satisfied with my job. These things are all connected.
In fact, similar situations are very common for recent graduates in reality, and the questioner is not alone! There are external factors and there are internal factors. We cannot say that it is "a complete mess" without any exceptions. At least, we have learned and experienced from many experiences that we can avoid "repetition of past mistakes". This is also a gain!
1. I didn't pass the second exam, and my boyfriend said he wasn't interested in taking the relationship further.
It seems like your boyfriend doesn't want to take the relationship further. Have you ever considered what aspects of you he really loves? Or does he have to marry someone who is a "graduate student"?
Does your boyfriend think that postgraduate study is the only way forward for you? Could there be other options that are more suitable for you?
...What are your thoughts on this?
2. My boyfriend is constantly rejecting me because he's not happy with my work, and I'm starting to feel insecure.
We all want to be accepted, encouraged, and affirmed, especially by those closest to us. Is the boyfriend's "dissatisfaction" a form of "suppression/denial/exacerbation" of the questioner's "failure in the second war"? Is the "lack of confidence" that comes from being hit by others temporary, or does it become the courage and strength for the questioner to "fight back"?
3. I'm starting to lose confidence, and I'm hesitant to go to graduate school. I'm also becoming increasingly dissatisfied with my work.
Maybe we can take a step back and think this through. Is taking the postgraduate entrance exam really what the questioner wants to do? Are there other options that the questioner is more interested in and better at?
4. I've been putting in the work to improve my performance and gain my boyfriend's approval, but he's becoming increasingly dissatisfied and negating my choice of work.
– The questioner has been working hard just to get her boyfriend's approval. What kind of work would make him satisfied?
It's not just about denying choices, but also about affirming choices. Don't you think this is the right attitude for a mature person?
5. Because we're denying and feeling pressured, our contradictions are growing, and we're breaking up.
The questioner is feeling the pressure and is struggling to see a way to make her boyfriend happy. Before trying to make others happy, it might be helpful for the questioner to focus on being happy with what she has done and achieved.
Of course, if you want to make someone else happy, you've got to be happy with yourself first. Otherwise, there'll always be a conflict between you two.
6. I've missed out on a lot of chances to choose my own work, and I've also lost confidence.
It seems like the questioner has been trying to please her boyfriend by making choices that don't align with her true self. This has led to a situation where she's living for her boyfriend and has lost sight of her own needs and desires. As an independent individual, she has the right to make her own choices, regain her confidence, and live her life on her own terms. Secondly, she should use her charm to attract people who love her for who she is. Otherwise, we risk becoming what others expect.
Right now, I feel like my life is a mess, and I don't know where to start. What went wrong? Where should I start to make my life better?
The questioner feels like his life is a mess after successive failures. This might be the turning point where he realizes "the opposite is true."
How do you get your life back on track? Start by being true to yourself. Think clearly about what you've done before. Is this the life you want? If not, but you're living for others, stop. Re-think your goals. Get back to the life you want!
From what I can see, the problem is that the questioner isn't clear on what he wants and isn't able to recognize his own needs and demands.
Should we just let others make all the decisions for us? What if we followed our own "blueprint" for life? Could we see our own "vision" then?
If you want to change your destiny, start over and learn from your mistakes! Start by loving yourself, following your heart's desires, following your life plan, and taking back your right to choose. Start living for yourself now!
If you're in a situation like the original poster, you might want to try starting over like this:
First, accept all your past experiences and turn those "painful/failed" experiences into stepping stones for your new start.
1. Nobody's born with an easy life. Becoming your true self means paying a price. You've probably made mistakes in choosing a job, a partner, a career path, and studying for exams. Every aspect is a "sub-topic" of our lives. It's the inevitable law of development, and we all have to pass it.
2. In fact, everyone's growth is the result of rising above past challenges. For the questioner, all the experiences she had before have their own value. One by one, identify the root cause of failure. For example, did you really want to take the postgraduate entrance exam? Have you made another choice after failure? Combine your own areas of expertise, and explore other options.
3. Get to the root of why you lack confidence. Is it just the pressure/dissatisfaction of your boyfriend? Find a choice that makes you happy and satisfied first.
And what do your family members think of your choice, apart from your boyfriend? Are they supportive, positive, and accepting?
Second, take a deep breath, figure out what you want your life to look like, start fresh, and gradually get your confidence back. Learn to love yourself, face your fears, and tackle challenges head-on, whether it's in your personal life, career, or relationships.
1. The character traits we "acquire" from our primary caregivers, such as being confident, aren't always accepted, encouraged, or affirmed. Instead, they're suppressed, disapproved of, or blamed. Over time, our confidence is depleted, and when internal conflicts continue to mount, our failures follow.
2. Face your failures head-on, get your confidence back, avoid people who drain you, follow your heart, and start with small things you can control, like starting each day by doing three small things you can "be sure" of. Map out your life plan and fulfill it step by step. In the end, we're responsible for our own lives.
3. Start learning how to love yourself. It's easier said than done.
There's a book called "When You Start Loving Yourself, the Whole World Will Love You Back." It's true that we can only love others if we love ourselves. And we can only love ourselves if we know how to do it. Otherwise, how can we expect to win the love of others?
Also, loving yourself is a skill that everyone should learn. I recommend reading "Love Yourself Back." When we love ourselves, we can attract the love of others with our own charm.
4. Learn to plan your life well because everyone is an independent individual with their own personality, traits, interests, hobbies, and areas of expertise. Only you know which area you're most suited to. When you know your "soft/hard power," you can maximize each person's effectiveness.
In short, this is how I understand the question and my response to it. I hope it'll be helpful. I hope the questioner can face failure, learn from it, face the pain, face challenges head-on, and find their true selves again. Believe your future isn't a dream. Be brave and be yourself! I'm rooting for you!
Best,
[Name]
I'm a person of one heart, and I love the world and you. ?
Comments
I can totally relate to how overwhelming everything must feel right now. It sounds like you've been through a lot, and it's important to acknowledge that. Life has thrown so many challenges at you in such a short period. Focusing on healing yourself and rebuilding your confidence could be the first step towards regaining control.
It seems like the relationship with your boyfriend had a significant impact on your selfesteem and decisions. Sometimes people around us may not always provide the support we need. Now might be the perfect time to surround yourself with positive influences who encourage your growth and happiness.
The setbacks you faced after graduation seem to have set off a chain reaction affecting various aspects of your life. It's crucial to remember that failing the postgraduate entrance exams doesn't define your worth or potential. Perhaps exploring different avenues for education or career development could open up new possibilities and restore your faith in yourself.
Breaking up with your boyfriend was tough, but it also freed you from a cycle of negativity. This experience taught you valuable lessons about what you deserve in a relationship and in life. Focusing on personal development and setting goals that align with your passions can lead to finding fulfilling work and personal satisfaction.
You've been working hard despite the obstacles, which shows great resilience. Consider taking a moment to reflect on what truly makes you happy and pursue that wholeheartedly. Your efforts should be directed toward something that brings joy and fulfillment, rather than seeking validation from others.