Let’s face it: breakups suck. They’re like that unwanted guest who overstays their welcome and keeps reminding you of all the bad decisions you’ve made. During one particularly tumultuous breakup quite a few years ago (as you can see without the face tattoos), I found myself drowning in a sea of emotions, confusion, and, let’s be honest, a fair amount of self-pity.
That’s when I stumbled upon a little gem of a book called “How Not to Give a F*ck” by Mark Manson.
Now, I’ll be real, when I picked up this book, I was knee-deep in a “why me?” spiral, giving all the fucks I could muster. But Manson’s blunt, no-nonsense approach slapped me across the face and shook me out of my funk. Seriously, I felt like I was being counseled by a wise friend who wasn’t afraid to drop the truth bombs all over the shop
One of the biggest and key takeaways from the book was the idea that not everything deserves my energy or attention. Manson encourages people like moi, to prioritize what really matters in life and to let go of the trivial nonsense that we often let consumes us around us. I mean, who knew that I didn’t need to care about my ex’s new relationship. Spoiler alert: not everything is worth a f*ck.
As I plowed through the chapters like trying to find a diamond in the mud, it felt like a cathartic release. I realized that I was putting way sooo much pressure on myself to be “perfect” and “put together.”
Who gives a f*ck about societal expectations when you’re just trying to figure out how to navigate life post heartbreak? The book helped me shift my perspective from “I can’t believe this is happening to me” to “What do I actually want from life?”
Manson also dives into the importance of accepting our struggles and failures, for they are the powerful lessons and I believe, in my heart, that the struggles and to be embraced and then use that struggle for something good, otherwise it’s pointless right?
And let’s be honest, I had a lot of those.
Instead of wallowing in self pity, I learned to embrace my imperfections and the fact that it’s okay to feel lost sometimes. This new outlook was like a breath of fresh air, suddenly, I could breathe again without feeling weighed down by the baggage of my breakup. It’s always been that way, I’d start reading and picking up books that resonate with me, and out with the old, in with the new
Now, don’t get me wrong, I still had my moments of despair, who doesn’t? But every time I felt like I was spiraling back into the depths of sadness, I’d remind myself of Manson’s wisdom (along with the 12 rules of life book) Slowly but surely, I began to let go of the things that were draining my energy and focus on what truly mattered.
So, if you’re going through a tough time, whether it’s a breakup or just life throwing you some shit ass fuck curveballs, I highly recommend picking up “How Not to Give a Fck.”
It won’t solve all your problems, but it might just give you the perspective shift you need to stop giving a fuck about the things that don’t really matter. And trust me, it feels damn good to reclaim your power and focus on the journey ahead.