If you're like me, you go through life with insecurities. You allow people to take advantage of you and make decisions for you. You walk through life with the mindset of being a people-pleaser and always putting their needs before your own. I'm here to tell you that that's nonsense.

Choose you. Choose your own happiness. Embrace your imperfections. There will always be people who tell you how to part your hair and how to do your makeup, or which jeans look best on you and what you should really be eating. Don't let anyone else be the leader of your life. If you want to wear an oversized t-shirt with a beanie and leggings, do it. If you want to dye your hair purple, do it. Do what makes you happy. Take that, and run with it. Do you want to go through your life letting everyone else decide what's best for you, or do you want to say, "that was my decision and I'm proud of it." Don't let anyone dictate your mind. If they don't like you for the exact way you are, remove them from your life. They clearly don't appreciate how extraordinary you are.

You're in control of your life and if for a second you're not, grab the reigns and pull it back. Your life, and what happens in it, is completely in your hands. It's OK to be selfish, and it's OK to say no to something you don't want to do. It's OK to stay at home on a Friday night watching movies instead of going out. It's okay to eat left over pizza at 3 in the morning and to pull all-nighters. At the end of the day, it's only you that you need to please. Be proud to be who you are. There will be a time in your life that you'll reminisce on the crazy, beautiful life you've lived. Be able to talk about it with only good thoughts. What do you have to lose? The most glorious thing you can do for yourself is to just live. Don't be afraid to let people down or not give them what they want. Ask yourself this, "have they always pleased me? Have they given me everything?" If they haven't, they don't deserve your everything. You have to tell yourself, "their opinions don't matter. What I think does." Make mistakes, enjoy your freedom. Enjoy the ride.

I hope you can take all of this advice and store somewhere in your mind so when you're feeling down or abused, this will give you strength. Think of all the positives in your life and be thankful for them. Be thankful for who you are. There is no one exactly like you and I believe that is something to treasure. I live by this and I promise you it works wonders. Life is too short to be anyone but yourself.