I used to be a bit of a jerk – like, I was the kind of person who liked to whisper comments to my sister about other people, tearing them down, making fun of them. I now know that I was projecting my own insecurities onto others. I was miserable, and I was making myself miserable. It took a lot of discipline to break free from the patterns that kept me there. I had to break free from the cognitive distortions, the negative thinking, and the habits that weren’t helpful. That freedom has changed my life.