I’ve recently come to the conclusion that a great majority of the unhappiness we experience in life comes from a distorted understanding of who we are. The lies we choose to believe about ourselves often entrap us in a world where we feel inadequate and inferior. As a result, we miss out on the opportunity to reach our greatest potential. Here are 16 of the biggest lies I hope to leave behind in 2016, and I sincerely hope that you’ll join me.

1. “You aren’t worth other people’s time.”

Contrary to what you might believe, your existence is not an inconvenience to everyone on the planet. You were created to live in meaningful relationships with others, and it's perfectly acceptable to ask the people you care about to spend time with you. The conversations we have and the time we spend with the people we trust the most help make us who we are. Moreover, people actually benefit hearing our experiences and insights.

2. "You can't achieve ________ goal or pursue _________ passion because of _________ flaw."

Although understanding our weaknesses can help us see areas in which we can improve, it's important not to feel defeated when something doesn't come naturally to us. Sure, the fact that I don't really like to talk in front of people makes my passion for spoken word poetry a little more complicated. But what might happen if I believed I was stronger than my fears and weaknesses?

3. "Your progress doesn't matter because you haven't achieved perfection yet."

The journey to becoming who we want to be is rarely a linear trip from point A to point B. The innumerable lessons life has to offer are far too complex to be learned in a short period of time. Give yourself grace as you learn and grow.

4. "Your past failures mean that you shouldn't try again."

I'm learning to believe that the only true failure in life is failing to learn from your past shortcomings. Just because you didn't get the grade you wanted in English last semester or didn't land that awesome job doesn't mean you don't have the capacity to. It just means you have a great opportunity to reflect and determine what changes you might need to make to see more favorable outcomes in the future.

5. "Your emotions aren't valid."

Most people don't wake up in the morning wanting to feel sad or angry about a given situation. While there are certainly less than ideal ways to deal with negative emotions, the validity of emotions themselves shouldn't be undermined. When you feel something negative surface, accept it, take a deep breath and decide how to address the situation from there.

6. "You probably peaked in high school. It's all downhill from here."

First of all, I really don't believe in the idea of "peaking." There are unique lessons and challenges during each season in our lives, and I think that they should be embraced for what they are. Regardless of what season you happen to be in, there's so much truth and beauty ahead. Own that.

7. "Your likes, interests and hobbies are lame."

The fact that you don't enjoy the same activities, styles or entertainment as the majority of your peers doesn't make you strange or unlikable. Alternatively, the fact that you do doesn't make you basic or uninteresting. You do you.

8. "You don't need that second slice of pizza."

Yes, you do.

9. "Everyone is judging you all the time."

While it can be easy to feel like everyone is scrutinizing your every move, most people are really just minding their own business. If someone really is judging you, then that says way more about their character than it does yours.

10. "Cherishing your past is a sign of weakness."

I've especially struggled with this one this year as I've made the transition from high school to college. Initially, I felt guilty for missing my old friends, teachers and experiences. I eventually realized that it's healthy to appreciate your roots as long as they're contributing to your growth. I don't take awkward nostalgic visits to my high school every week, but I do when I need to, and I generally leave feeling eager to put the lessons I've learned from my hometown into action as I move forward.

11. "You can't have more than one group of close friends."

No one group of human beings "owns" you. You are not a piece of property. Open up to different kinds of people and spend time with whoever you want to spend time with.

12. "You don't deserve a sufficient amount of sleep."

Repeat after me: Sleep is not a reward that you earn. It is a biological and psychological imperative. So get seven to eight hours of sleep a night, kids.

13. "Your ideas and experiences don't matter."

Coming from someone who used to preface virtually every thought/idea with, "This is probably really stupid but.." I can assure you that people take you more seriously when you have confidence in your unique perspective.

14. "____ person was probably right when he/she said ____ awful thing about you."

No. ____ person was probably just projecting his/her own insecurities onto you. Moving on.

15. "You're going through this all alone."

No matter what situation you're in, I promise that others have been through something similar. That doesn't mean that your experience isn't unique, but it does mean that there is someone out there who can empathize with what you're dealing with to some degree.

16. "You don't deserve to be happy and pursue what you love."

So you were created to be miserable and bored? I doubt it. You have a genuine purpose that no one else can fulfill. This year, soak in the truth of who you are and start living it!