I have often been described as, and surrounded by, extremely ambitious people.

I guess you can say those are my kind of people. I can relate to those who have just so much on their plate that they rack up countless nights of no sleep. Hell, I can relate to people who cringe at the phrase you have “too much on your plate”, because as true as it is, you don’t want to be reminded of it, nor be ashamed of it. If your schedule is so busy down to the minute, or you’re already thinking about the next project before the ten in front of you are even finished, you’re my kind of person.

What I can relate to most though, is that no matter how seemingly fool-proof our feelings are of pushing our limits and taking those risks, we inevitably find ourselves in states of discouragement and frustration.

So, here is my pep talk, my personal letter of motivation for anyone feeling that way at this very moment.

Ambitious people are a rare and precious breed. So, whatever you do, please do not give up. You are the future of this world. Ambitious people are the ultimate drivers of their crafts. Every failure, every mishap you come across is still an investment in your future. There is a process attached to each of these goals, and I admire you if you’re watching your progress is moving so slowly yet surely. That kind of patience and persistence is a difficult thing to maintain.

Ambitious people are the sole contributors to the breakthroughs of our communities, and every moment of doubt that you have is one moment added in between now and your moment of glory. And all we ever want is to see you succeed. Now, more than ever, when there are so many terrible things in this world, we need you. We want to cherish your victories because they are the beacons of hope to keep moving forward with our own journeys.

Being ambitious, albeit an admirable trait on the surface, is the best blessing as well as the worst curse all at the same time. There is a dark side to it. For one, you are naturally a perfectionist, you hold your work at such a higher standard compared to everyone else, and you feel like nothing is good enough. You’re never satisfied, and you’re seemingly never happy, because you’re somewhat always borderline obsessive over something being achieved, even if it’s not in your control. But I want you to know that no matter what, you’re doing great. It might not be what you imagined, but again, everything you do matters. It will count in the long run.

It’s constant that there are bumps in the road, a bigger challenge to face after the thousands you’ve faced before. It’s so impossibly intimidating. We’re always being told that if you work hard, you’ll make it, but they forget to mention that sometimes that’s not always the case. Sometimes hard work just isn’t enough, and there are things like luck and foul play involved that you just can’t fight.

But, don’t lose sight of what’s real. Take a moment to become self-aware again. Take note that your support system isn’t a right. It’s a privilege. You are lucky to have it, not many do, so pay homage to it and nourish it to grow and be healthy. Your talent, your gift, although it may seem like it’s failing you, it’s not. It’s there for you. It’s your personal partner in crime. Its success and exposure is dependent on you, so don’t hide it, don’t be afraid to shine. A little reflection on what you have and what you’ve achieved, I feel is always helpful in bringing back to light all that’s ahead of you.

And maybe most importantly, know that you are not alone. Us dreamers and fighters have to stick together. If you feel like the world is conspiring against you, if you feel like you’re losing hope, if you feel that other responsibilities and obligations are stronger than you are and its loosening your grip on what you want, it’s okay. Because I feel you. We all feel you.

Don’t be scared. I know you’re scared. Whoever you are, you are scared. Everyone is scared of something. Whether it be fear of failure or embarrassment or turning out to be wrong all along, it’s okay. It’s okay to be that, for now. But just remember that this fear is not who you are. You are a warrior. Your ambition is a flame that will not go out unless you let it.

To all of my ambitious friends out there, know that at the end of the day, we should all be proud of each other. We are the future icons of our generation, the future idols of young dreamers that are exactly like we used to be all those years ago.

It’s time to address the importance in such inspiring, or potentially inspiring, people in a world constantly telling us “no”.

So cheers to the ambitious people of this world, and if you’re one of them, I sincerely thank you for being you!