You have to take the good with the bad, that’s life. It will take you on an emotional roller coaster if you let those around you dictate your happiness. I get it, people can be rude, tear others down to build themselves up, expect too much of you, lack empathy or be completely irrational. There’s no sugar coating it, people can really suck. Don’t let these sucky people suck the life out of you. If you live your life honestly and with good intentions, take responsibility for your actions and think about others, there’s no reason to beat yourself up. LOVING YOURSELF IS THE GREATEST MIDDLE FINGER OF ALL TIME. It tells those around you that only YOU define yourself. Learning to love yourself is a journey, but I promise, with work, everyone has the ability to get there.
Valuing yourself doesn't mean only loving yourself through the good stuff, it means accepting failure and imperfection. I challenge you to focus your energy on what’s in your control and work on building the most important relationship in your life, the one with yourself! Practice self-care, surround yourself with those that make you happy, pay attention to the positive, learn from the challenges and let your inner voice speak louder than those around you. “The moment you realize your worth, things start to change.” It’s never too late to start or continue on your journey. Let’s go -- built in middle finger included!