A forewarning, this article features numerous cliches. In writing, it’s generally best to stay away from these lines, such as “bright and early” or “in the nick of time,” but for this piece, it doesn’t matter. It never hurts to be reminded that you are a boss, that you are worthy, that you are amazing.

All my life, I doubted myself. Insecurity, indecisiveness, and lack of confidence were basically synonymous with my name. It’s just who I was. Who I am, really. Recently, however, I realized something big, something life changing—I have to bet on myself. And so do you.

I spent a significant chunk of my life struggling with numerous strifes, from depression and anxiety to an eating disorder and physical injuries. This consumed all of my teenage years, actually, which adds up to over seven years of uncertainty. Not everyone in such a position is lucky enough to have incredibly supportive and loving family and team members, ones who believe in them even through the darkness, but I do. That doesn’t mean that there were not moments, days, even weeks, that people doubted what I could do. Numerous friends, significant others, doctors, and even family members sometimes, were sure that I would fail, some abandoned me due to this. The reality is, whether you suffer from mental illness, hard times, an addiction, or just a bad attitude, you will encounter those who tell you that you will not succeed. When I made peace with this fact, I learned an important lesson: you need to bet on something, and it might as well be on yourself.

Is it cheesy to say “believe in yourself?” Absolutely. Is that a reason to not? No. It’s a small statement that I think everyone needs to be reminded of once in a while.

At your weakest point, you are strong. At your lowest point, you are alive.

Maybe it sounds familiar. Someone tells you you’re hopeless, that you’ll never last in college, that you won’t get a job. It’s easy to let that get to you, it happens to us all. But what we all need is to use that as motivation. It doesn’t matter what they say. I never realized that even though an aquaintance doubted me, I still could achieve. Just because a former friend thought that I was a lost cause, it doesn’t mean I am. Because I’m not, and neither are you.

You gotta look out for number one (you’re your number one). We’ve all heard it, we all say it, but we don’t all believe it. Sadly, there will be times in life where it’s just me, myself, and I. We all hope it turns into me, myself, and all my millions, but in the meantime, someone has to look out for you—and that person might just have to be you. Only one person knows what you have in you, how big that fire inside of you is. I don’t believe that anyone can tell you that you can’t do something, if it’s something you believe you can do. The power of a positive attitude, determination, and most importantly, confidence in your ability, is usually underestimated. Usually by yourself.

I left home and went to school, and I made it. I hit rock bottom in my own way, and I rose above. I set personal goals, and I achieved them.

If Paris Hilton believed that she could be a DJ (and did become one), there is no reason, not a single one, that you shouldn’t bet on yourself. So go back the bet of yourself. Even if it goes against all odds.