Awaken Yourself, Change Yourself, Forgive Yourself

Before his passing, Carl Jung told his disciple:
"Don’t even think about trying to change others!"
Changing others often backfires, yet changing yourself can help you achieve what you desire.
But let’s be honest: changing others is hard, and changing yourself is even harder.

As the saying goes: "Humans may explore the cosmos, yet remain strangers to themselves. We are farther from understanding our own being than any distant star."
Regardless, as the protagonists of our own lives—lives we only live once—we owe it to ourselves to treat ourselves with kindness and responsibility.

How do we honor and take charge of our lives?
By learning to awaken ourselves, understand ourselves, change ourselves, fulfill ourselves, forgive ourselves, and ultimately—live as ourselves.

01 | Awaken Yourself. Understand Yourself.

As adults, we face new pressures and fewer reminders. The pressure? Providing for our basic necessities. The silence? Others assume we’re mature enough to figure things out alone.

We once dreamed of independence—boldly conquering the world—only to realize we can’t even manage three meals a day when left to our own devices. Hunger teaches us life’s harsh realities.

Many fantasize about freedom but find solitude, boredom, and pain instead. No friends around. Just an empty apartment, a phone, and endless scrolling—laughing one minute, crying the next. You wonder: Am I lonely? Or numb? You quietly admit you never imagined life turning out this way.

Days blur. You feel trapped—like a frog in a dark well, suffocating in the gloom.
This is when you need awakening.

Walt Whitman said: "Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you."
Only you know if you’re truly living well. And only you can wake yourself up.

We assume we know ourselves best. We don’t.
Often, we’re slaves to our impulses—acting without reflection, judgment, or refusal. We lie to ourselves. Like the frog believing the well is "safe," ignoring the vibrant world above.

Pause. Question the voice in your head. Seek the essence of growth and purpose.
One day, you’ll see: those who judge superficially see only fog.
Those with profound self-awareness discover their unique value and potential.

02 | Change Yourself. Fulfill Yourself.

Change is how you become who you’re meant to be.
Understanding yourself is the first step. Changing yourself is the journey.

Most know they’re unhappy, stuck, or lost—yet never change. Why?
They lack commitment. They try something, give up when results don’t appear overnight, and jump to the next idea.

At night, they dream wildly of future success—excited, convinced it’s within reach.
By morning? Nothing changes. They repeat yesterday.

As Kugelmann observed:
"Those focused on the horizon miss what’s plain to the shortsighted."
When you chase quick wins and obsess over the future, you waste energy on distractions. What’s left for what truly matters?

Release the obsession with "success." Quiet the noise. Focus. Grow.
Look inward for answers, and you’ll find no challenge is insurmountable.

As Feuerbach put it:
"Practice resolves problems theory cannot."
Act. Persist. Grow stronger. The world makes way for those who move forward.
Make excuses? Even an open road won’t take you far.

Change yourself. Elevate yourself. Only then do you fulfill yourself.

Someone once asked: "Why be disciplined? Why strive daily?"
A wise reply:
"Because you need a purpose. Something to say: 'This is who I am.'
You must do something to know what you truly want."
Exactly. You change first. Then you learn how to become yourself.

03 | Forgive Yourself. Live as Yourself.

We all have strengths and flaws.
Many never change because they fixate on their weaknesses.

Remember: no one is perfect—just as no two leaves are identical.
Stare only at your flaws, and your strengths fade. Pour energy into self-criticism, and your gifts wither.

Maturity means:
Confidently using your strengths, while kindly accepting your limits.
Embrace your imperfections. Forgive your shortcomings. Live through your gifts.

As Hölderlin wrote:
"Poetically, humans dwell on this earth. Where danger lies, grows saving power too."
Every life deserves kindness—especially your own. When struggling, give yourself grace. Be your own sanctuary.

Why? To gather strength. To keep living boldly.

Imagine returning from stormy seas to the tranquil shores of home. Loved ones wait—not for trophies, but for you: whole, safe.
Rooted in your truth, you feel peace. Warmth. Belonging.

Release the past. Be present.
Forgive yourself. Live as yourself.
There, you’ll find calm. You’ll breathe freely.
And that is enough.