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Every single day, someone overcomes what they believe to be such a large challenge in their life, sometimes without even noticing that they’ve done it. I personally have overcome my past so many times in various situations, and continue to do so every day.

Growing up in a dysfunctional family, where crying and screaming were casual and love was irregular, I’ve learned a lot in my 17 years of life.

I have learned a lesson that most people don’t learn until far in their lifetime: the lesson of forgiveness and understanding.

To feel anger and compassion is completely normal, but so many of us are oblivious to the lessons that come after these emotions. When we’re feeling down, or broken, the last thing on our minds is how someone else might feel. At the time, you may not know it or think of it, but most times, to help yourself you need to help others.

You may having the worst day possible and you feel as though you just can’t go on any more. But suddenly you see someone crying, and you comfort them. The smile that comes upon that person’s face may be one that imprints your life for a second, but it could also be there in your mind for a lifetime.

So many times, our pain could be healed by a selfless act, and yet we choose to sulk in our worries and keep to ourselves when we are in pain. The tangles in our brains are immense; we are perfectly imperfect humans striving for happiness, but far too many times our brains run ahead of our hearts and we are tripped and strangled by the hands of our minds. To escape these hands is a feat many cannot fathom, but at the same rate, every day we pull a finger off, one at a time, until we free ourselves from the grip of one less burden.

Our mental health issues may never go away–or, maybe, they will–but if we learn to tackle them in small strides, we can lessen them and make ourselves so much stronger. Kindness rules over all. No matter if it feels like it takes more energy than to be rude in certain situations, you are bettering yourself by being kind to people.

When you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom, remember that someone else is there, too, and it is much easier to work together to reach the top, rather than fight to get there alone.