This is a good one. I figure knowing that it can be both at the same time is a measure for adulthood of sorts.

I have cancer. 😞

I have cancer! 😀

What if the person you used to be is better than the one you are currently?

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That's covered in the pic...

Now I’m better now that I was 10 years ago and single again

If you don’t want to know don’t do yourself a ct scan

Well... What have you got to lose? Your life? Hey, look. You don't need the biggest, baddest, most expensive harley. An early 90s BMW K bike will get you on a national park tour just as well. Get a gopro and make it a YouTube series. "I'm doing more living while dying"

Why, and what are you gonna do about it?

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I'm more in the middle at the moment

This paints life too broadly I find. I do everything I can to change my "outlook" on life, but life itself is so much more than how one perceives it. Once you've reached a point where you've made every positive change you thought possible, and still simply can't do anything right, it becomes more than just perspective.

Both can be true at once. 😉

I have faith that you’ll find someone.

Meth. They’re gonna do meth.

It really matters what the trajectory of a person's life is. The guy on the left has a downward trajectory. The guy on the right may have an upward trajectory. If your life's trajectory is from good to bad, it is not a bad thing to grieve what was lost. Just don't forever stay in that state of grief.

not if I isolate and stop interacting people, which is what I've been doing

When I met my person, I was not social. I met him at work. That honestly was the only way I seen people. We became best friends at work. He was the person that got me out of the house when we would see each other. He knew I was battling with depression and had left an abusive relationship years before him.

So yes, I believe that it could happen.

I wish had the cartilage I had 20 years ago

Pass the pipe

But love yourself today, because you'll never meet that person again.

Good one.

Bad roll for scenery

You shift your eyes left

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It sounds like you may benefit from changing your thoughts. “Can’t do anything right” is a very negative, and untrue, statement. “I do things right sometimes” or “it didn’t work this time, but that’s okay”. Reality check yourself and reward effort.

I’m a therapist and I absolutely love Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Well, my son was in the hospital for a month and almost died 3 times. I thought I was an OK dad until he woke up and punched me in the face and yelled, why are you not angry!". At that moment, I realized how my son saw me and changed myself at 45 years old. Probably the 3rd major change I made in my life and all have been for the better. Everyone can change if they really try.

It’s all about the type of mentality you carry

I was in that spot for a while, but I realized that by Changing my thoughts about myself and encouraging good behavior (positive reinforcement), I became more of the person I wanted to be. Instead of punishing myself, I coached myself lovingly on behaving well and cheered myself when I did. Within a matter of weeks, I switched from intense self loathing to loving myself everyday because I believe I am a great person who tries to do good in my core. I am worthy of love from myself because I am trying my best.

I disagree. Honestly I would work on just loving yourself, having healthy and fulfilling friendships, and making your life full of things that make you happy. I’m not discounting your desire for intimacy, but you truly have to give yourself all the love you need first to be an asset to someone else. And I say that as someone on the “right side of the bus” without ever having dated. My worth isn’t measured by other people thinking that I am worthy of their affection.

You either get bitter or get better

We are always changing. You can definitely be in a place where you're worse than you were before. And that realization can hit like a ton of bricks. But that realization is also the first step to improving yourself. So my answer would be to take a look at your life, figure out how to improve it, and then start doing it

I can relate to both. I'm no longer the young, adventurous, fun guy with lots of friends. Also, I'm no longer the dumb, dangerous, drunk known by everyone.

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Oh cool! The other side of

"This too shall pass."

What a waste of time it would be to remain the same person forever.

You are aware of it. So change it. You know where it leads. Try a new road. Even if you don’t know where you’re going…that’s a great way to get somewhere you’ve never been.

I would say from 2017 and onwards, my pay went up a fair bit. Now I’m looking to make an even bigger leap

Life experiences constantly change you. So in that sense, you aren't even the same person you were yesterday. So why are you trying to live the same life tomorrow?

I was a happier person in the past.

Rollo the bowlo

“What a really nice piece of art”

• George Russell probably

I saw myself as the left, felt really bad, then decided to change up everything so that became the person on the right.

Original state: not moving up in a dead end job, living in a location I don’t like, around the types of people I don’t like being around (except a handful of good friends).

I was like fuck it. Quit my job, picked a brand new career field that I’ve always wanted to be a part of, and only looked for jobs in places I wanted to live.

While my immediate life hasn’t changed much, the trajectory is now a 180.

Don’t fucking settle guys. If you don’t like your situation, change your trajectory. Actual change will be slow, but just knowing the trajectory has changed is very motivating!

Agreed. To be able to look with bittersweet fondness on the past is a way to know you've begun to age with grace (something that isn't limited to the elderly).

Jesse?

I dunno. I'm pretty happy without romantic involvement or seeking it oit. Maybe I'll be interested later, but for now life's good.

Maybe it's just a matter of wanting it or not, I dunno.

That phrase was always both sides of the coin.

I needed this today. Recently lost my 14 year old dog and while grieving him, I was also mourning the life I had with him thinking those were the best years of my life. Trying to look forward to new adventures without him and finally coming around to being excited for the future again.

Look, I'm a fucking disaster. But at least I'm not that disaster anymore.

I started clarifying my answer of ‘same’ when people ask how have things been by adding ‘in the good way, not the bad way’.

I'm currently in the middle of both.

I am a happier person now luckily

OMG this is soooooo me right now. Just coming out of a many years long depression.

What if you don’t like yourself today?

Guy on left recently got depressed, guy on right has got out of it.

This pic reminds me of Glacier National Park.

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What a motivational read, thanks!

Kudos to you for working on yourself! It's definitely not easy.

If you don’t mind me asking which state did you move from and to?

I want to move states but I’m having tough time figuring out which one.

> Original state: not moving up in a dead end job, living in a location I don’t like, around the types of people I don’t like being around (except a handful of good friends).

Damn, were you me?!

What tips would you have to take the plunge? I won’t deny I feel like I want to do what you did but I come up with problems to not do it.

Try again tomorrow.

This is called a positive reframe. It can be applied to many aspects of your life.

That one is really good. Also it is up to you whom you want to be.

This works because the guy on the right is just getting out of prison.

Came here for this

Never thought of it that way thank you for this.

Adults need to wake up and realize they are in this picture! FOCUS ON THE GOOD PEOPLE

iM nO lOnGeR tHe PeRsOn I uSeD tO bE

That’s me on the left a few months ago, now I’m on the right and so happy about who I am becoming.

Wow no one cares ok

So the goal is to try to be our best self I guess...

The guy on the right is his former self and the guy on the left is the result of letting himself go.

Y’all romanticizing your lives so hard 😭 wish I could relate

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What if you are both these people?

Most days I don’t so chances are tomorrow won’t work either.

"Sacrifice who you are to who you can become."

Perspective matters.

It's all in the context isn't it. Both can be valid feelings to that thought.

I’m jealous of you. I hate that I have this feeling, but I’m jealous that you were able to find a way out. Congratulations nonetheless ❤️

I think it does not matter so much what the trajectory of a person's life is, within reason. What about the present moment?

I think the message here is that at any moment you ultimately can adopt one primary attitude about life change.

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There's a non zero chance you can enjoy something about yourself when you look back on these days, so take it in and give your future self a chance to feel different

So, it depends on where you sit on the bus. Got it.

I find that planning everything out first made it easier. I aligned my finances, looked at places I’d actually live in, and even applied for and got offered jobs. Just working at the logistics first.

At that point, knowing my ducks are aligned from a purely logical and feasible standpoint, it was easier to make that emotional jump because lining everything up removed a lot of the excuses. The whole thing took about a year to prepare.

Worst (or best) case you line everything up and then realize you don’t actually want to leave. Then maybe something you actually do enjoy is where you’re at and keeping you emotionally there. And then you just cancel all your plans if that’s the case.

Oversimplified

Feeling both at the same time is normal.

I went from the guy in the right to the guy in the left over the last 3 years. I hope can go back to being the guy in the right soon.

Yeah so I travelled a lot in my last job, so I had good ideas of what I like and don’t like in terms of location. I don’t think I can do you right by recommending any specific place as that’s purely preference.

But if you have the budget, maybe go visit the place you’re interested in for a couple weeks. But keep in mind touring a place is not the same as living at a place though. So keep in mind the small details. Details like commuting time, local culture, cost of living (utilities, food, internet), weather patterns, distance to gas stations, potholes, the taste of their tap water, etc. Like for me I also look for variety of things to do a location has to offer, as I like to try new things.

Those aren’t normally things you consider when you travel there for only a week or two. The little things are the stuff that adds up and affect you. Your list of things you care about may be completely different than mine too so those examples might not even be good examples.

BUT, there’s also diving head first too. If you don’t like the new place, the cool thing is you can always try another after saving up some budget again.

Gods above and below this is to true.i am so sad i don't have that weight of anger and rage. The resentment and hatred. Gods i wish i had his strength to go forward without second thought. His unrelenting unfathomable strength of sheer will.... the more I let joy be all i am the more pain i must endure

This also works for the text "My existence and everything I could ever do or ever achieve is absolutely meaningless" Some would see that as pure misery, others as a relief and a weight off.

Perspective is everything

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How do you switch the mentality though? I really feel like the sad one in the cartoon, but how do I change how I think? Any tips other than therapy?

It’s all about perspective

I am the same person I used to be. Just a better version of me

I get how if you haven't suffered a great loss in life, this could be motivation.

I want to be who I was, not who I am now.

I'd like my son to still be here with us. I hate the path I'm on now and there's nothing I can do to alter it. I am forever on this branch of life. I can try to find happiness in life, but I am envious of those who get to live their lives without having to lay their child to rest.

I do have some advantages. I always know where my child is and I never have to worry if anything bad will happen to him. So, take that other parents.

The most important takeaway is if you’re the guy on the left, you can get up and sit on the other side of the bus.

♥️

idk it seems like you're invalidating the sad person

I'm probably flipping between seats, not gone lie.

I feel this so hard

Like I had a rough time the last 2-3 years and a lot changed...

Sometimes I am so happy that I am better now but .. then there are these nights full of thoughts when I just wish for things to be different like back then...

Well... Change is good

In the view of bigger things

It’s 7 o clock on the dot, I needa crack rock…on the spot

I feel like the guy on the left. Anger issues has caused a bunch of strife. Burned a lot of bridges. Working a dead end job that’s not even making ends meet. However, my trajectory isn’t all down, I finally got a chance to do what I love for potential money, going from a hobbie to possibly a full time job will take time, but it’s better than doing it for free like I have to for the last 20 years. (Not complaining about doing something for free when it gives smiles, and makes people’s day/future seem better, but having the option to make something back is really nice too). My wife found her niche, and is doing really well at it. And she’s turning it into her side gig. I may not be adventurous, and as outgoing any more, but things are turning around slowly but surely, and steadily.

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I’m exactly the person I used to be. BECAUSE I’M LITERALLY THE SAME PERSON

Lesson: perspective and a nice view are very important!

Sometimes in life, we switch roles.

George Russell is the kind of guy who would like this artwork and put it on his wall to inspire him when he's having a bad day

For the first time I am on the right side of this meme. This makes me happy.

A reminder that it is good to feel the left side it’s all part of the process. Neither side is good or bad.

I especially feel like this is something all people go through when they become a parent. You can let it change you for the better or you can become resentful and unhappy

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Can you do things that would increase the chances that you’d like yourself over time? Perhaps start there. No one knows for certain what the future holds.

Trajectories can change through continual effort. They’re not immutable.

It’s definitely bittersweet

Looks like he is worried the bus is either gonna hit the cliff or fall off it.

Learn who taught you to hate yourself. They probably had an agenda.

Certainly. But I think part of changing one's trajectory is acknowledging loss (even if that loss is some quality or position or status or ability) and giving oneself permission to grieve. Then, once that grief has been expressed and has been relieved, it is possible to move on without the internal encumbrance of unresolved grief.

Username checks out

Here's a bigger shocker; I'm not the person I wanted to be.

I'd feel a lot happer too if I looked younger

You nailed it. Accepting what “is” and what “isn’t” at a given time can be very difficult. However, doing so gives one the agency to make substantive changes to their life.

For instance, I quit my supposed dream job and had an large, unproductive drinking problem. That was two years ago and I’ve been sober ever since, coincidentally finding more happiness personally and professionally than ever before. But it starts with being honest and putting the work in to change your life. It certainly is possible, and I encourage everyone to give it a try. Don’t shy away from failure. Failure highlights what you need to know in order to eventually complete whatever challenge you struggled with initially.

🎶I'm just somebody that I used to know

Whoa fuck I really needed that

That would be me.

Known.

Some.

Call.

Air.

Is.

Am.

Looks like a bipolar meme tbh...

Yeah on both the existential crisis side n the better off this path side rn. Costantly bein pulled both ways.

means you need to get up and move to the other side of the bus

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Life is tiring either way

George Russell, is that you?

Definetely on the left of that picture ATM

Hmm, what’s on my agenda for today.. ah yes. Here we are. 1. Make Tom hate himself.

You’ll feel that way for a bit. Then things will turn around. The last couple years I’ve been dreaming about the past and how I wish I could turn back time. My life’s ship has finally began to turn around and the future is looking better than my past ever was. I think it’s just part of life. Things do get better.

Cthulhu will eat the yellow shirt guy first

Same my friend. It’s such a welcomed change.

Just pointing his ice cream sandwich at the window.. eat it you maniac its going to melt.

What a dumb sub this has become.

You were hit by a bus?

I'm the guy on the left

This art is by Genildo Ronchi, @genildoronchi on Twitter. He's usually a cartoonist but his art has taken a turn to Junji Ito style recently!

But I like to look at rocks :(

Reminds me of the first DS9 episode, when Sisko and DAX exit the shuttle craft on the Celestial Temple!

Related

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How is this motivating ?. May be one guy improved objectively and the other became worse . It's not about point of view at all . What am I not getting here? .

I'm no longer the person I used to be too

But I hate both the person I was back then and now.🤷‍♀️

Bus driver, visibly terrified of the tight one car road they're maneuvering with little foresight:

"I'm not the person I used to be."

The pic is about perception. It doesn’t cover someone who has actually changed for the worse.

“Cheer up!”

“Why didn’t I think of that?! Thanks!”

When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

We all live one life. It's up to you to make the most of it and make it meaningful to you. A lot of bad things happen but we just not focus on the negative. The more you think negatively, the harder it is to break that habit.

I’d say if you don’t like yourself, you have reasons for not liking yourself, and I think in my personal opinion it’s useless to hear to “like yourself”. If you don’t like yourself you will know you’re faking it, which will make it worse. Kind of like faking a smile. A lot of pseudo psychologist used to think that helped you feel happier but if you know you’re faking it it actually makes it worse. We’re too smart to trick ourselves like that.

My opinion is if you don’t like yourself try to do some stuff that’s difficult, but not too difficult. Possibly something physical(jog, lift weights, play basketball, join a gym, do yoga). Also, If the area you spend most of your time is messy, that doesn’t help with how you feel about yourself.

Start focusing on how the people you love feel, instead of you. Slowly you’ll start to feel better and hopefully that leads to a positive loop for you.

Another thing to mention is doing all those things will also make your life better in a lot of ways. So even if it feels selfless it’s actually selfish, cause you get back way more than you give.

Occasionally you get burned but you can’t have expectations from others, just yourself.

Edit: don’t give up on liking yourself.

I find the people that don’t like themselves are the best people, cause they are aware that something is fucked up.

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You don't randomly come across content on Instagram. That's what you're there for. And the algorithm tries to give you shit you'll like.

My suggestion is therapy.

I would recommend that too, Sometimes that’s a hard first step, also sometimes it’s not an option. Good luck.

Dam, this says a lot about society 🧐🤔

nowbabytellmewhatyougonnado

I have cancer. I am going to feel sorry for myself and focus on negativity the entire time I am in treatment until I die. 😞

I have cancer. I now understand we are all here for a limited time, and my diagnosis has allowed me to see life and my place in the world differently. For the first time, I am learning not to be afraid. I have the chance to put love into the world around me while I am still here and this makes the remaining part of life beautiful to me. 😀

Life is stringy. One end sane and the other insane. The existence of the string becomes tangled and knotted like a complicated bird nest. A unbalanced string of parallel chaos of excitement and sadness, constantly fighting, tugging, sorting, deciding in hope that, it straightens out and life can finally be desired without insanity. So, at some point both ends of the string will attach and become a complete circle O, circle of life or as I like to think(birds nest). Sadly to say some make it and some don't, but that's life, life will always throw you curve balls, gutter balls and sometimes a stick of dynamite.

I've decided both men are the same individual. Riding together on the same bus(birds nest), depicting the aging of life and sadly to say, maybe the older gentleman had a little too much excitement and maybe the younger gent should actually rethink his steps. Sanity plays a part in all of us and the ability to find a little peace in everything we encounter should be encouraged. May the force be with you.

It’s sexier to whine about bad things than say good things. Most successful works are tragedies, not feel good stories. You think all death metal artists only feel misery and pain. If they made an uplifting album, no one would buy it.

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I think we should reject this version since it has the artist’s name cut off.

That's your opinion :) sorry to hear it

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I was told once that when you lose a family member or a pet, the grief you feel is proportional to the positive effect they had on your life.

So the more you grieve, the more you should appreciate just how awesome it was to have them around at all.

14 years is a really good run for a dog. I'm sure it had a great life.

Therapy is really great, but I would suggest a book called the Art of Happiness. It's an older book in conversation with the Dalai Lama and a psychiatrist named Howard Cutler. It blends Eastern philosophy with Western understandings of medical science and honestly it changed my life.

The 'switch' in mentality comes from understanding.

>Long long ago, a young woman from a wealthy family was happily married to an important man. When her only son was one-year-old, he fell ill and died suddenly. She was struck with grief; she could not bare the death of her only child. Weeping and groaning, she took her son's dead body in her arms and went from house to house begging all the people in the town for news of a way to bring her son back to life. She wanted MEDICINE.

>Of course, nobody could help her, but this young woman would not give up. Finally she came across a Buddhist who advised her to go and see the Buddha himself. When she carried the dead child to the Buddha and told Him her sad story, He listened with patience and compassion, and then said to her, "There is only one way to solve your problem. Go and find me four or five mustard seeds from any family in which there has never been a death."

>The woman was filled with hope, and set off straight away to find such a household. But very soon she discovered that every family she visited had experienced the death. Once she accepted the fact that death is inevitable, she buried her child and could stop her grieving. She realized that she was not unique-that she had not been singled out by God. She understood that surely as life comes to all of us, so Death comes to us all.

"I put my hand on the stove, to see if I still bleed

Yeah, and nothing hurts anymore, I feel kinda free

We're still the kids we used to be, yeah, yeah"

I know the public reputation Kanye has rn, but this song (Ghost Town) makes me think of how people try to shed the bad aspects of themselves (being able to be burned) but in the end they should try to stay true to themselves (we're still the kids we used to be)

That's so wonderful! I also recently lost my Grandmom who I was pretty close with sort of suddenly so it feels like the hits keep coming. It's nice to view the grief through a new lens rather than just wallowing in it. Thank you for the kind words!

It should be 2 sad faces to make it realistic.

I loved my life and who I was in my 20s.

In my 40s life is much worse. Basically no enjoyment. Boring ass job. Barely see mates. Kids and wife endlessly bothering me. This is the dream apparently.

Best thing is I've probably only got 30 something years left of living like this if averages hold true.

I'm a rocket man, rocket man

It's all about making sure the guy on the right outweighs the guy on the left. Because you'll feel both inevitably.

That's me on the left because I like to look at the geology of the mountain along the road when I'm not having a gneiss day.

Long COVID has fucked me up bad since 2020. It's hard to remember the right when breathing is hard just sitting here.

I have to rest for an hour after emptying the dishwasher.