Hey Lexi. You don’t necessarily have to give less fucks. I think that understanding that life is not infinite helps a lot. At the end, we all die, and nothing matters. So, does that mean we should get drunk every day and eat cookies? No. We must do our best every day, and accept what we can and can’t control. I would read Stoic philosophy to develop that thought. Start with A Manual For Living by Epictetus. And Meditations by Marcus Aurelius is also great. Let me know what you think after you’ve read those.

To be honest, I’ve never been an easygoing, thrill seeking, adventurous person. I am always stressed and anxious: an attitude which is often heightened by my school’s environment. I attend a private school in England which gets some of the best GCSE and A-Level results in the country. Everyone there is a leader, every pupil is set on a path with connections and support, toward a bright future in Law or in the Medical sector.
It’s not like I don’t also have these advantages: my parents have the connections and the money that will put me at this same level: the problem, therefore, lies with me.

It’s just that despite being desperate to do well in my GCSEs (which I will take in a year), my academic success is falling behind my peers and I’m sure I will fail if I can’t improve my grades. If I am to continue at my current school to sixth form, I must obtain 8 or more A*/A** grades, of the 10 exams I will take.

I’m certain I sound like a privileged, ungrateful prick: but not taking life seriously is tough when competing with ‘friends’ (and their parents) for top grades, aware that failure would really really upset my family.

I would love give less fucks, can you give me any advice?

Thanks,

Lexi (14) (Girl)

Thank you Darius! You are so right. I’m making a big change very soon that I have been putting off for emotional reasons, I think I have letting myself obsess over things I cannot control because I want to avoid one big thing I can control but have stupid fear about. Does that make sense?! Thanks again!!!!

That takes a lot of courage, Kate! Respect. About the thoughts in your head.. I wrote about that today!