I used to be you. Sometimes, I still am you. But, there’s one thing that I’ve asked myself over time. Why do we doubt?

We doubt because we are scared. We doubt because we have been told before that we are not good enough or even that we never will be. We doubt because there are people to impress, watching us like hawks to make sure we don’t screw everything up. We doubt because people have come into our lives, ransacked our hearts and taken them before we’ve even noticed that they’re gone until we are left broken and beaten down like old withered doors that have been slammed shut too many times.

We doubt because we’ve been hurt. We doubt because we can and because we can, we will. We doubt because it’s easier to doubt than to have hopes just to get them crushed by failure. We doubt because it doesn’t make us look cocky. We doubt because it doesn’t make us look weak. We doubt because it’s simple. We doubt because we are used to doubting and once you’re used to doubting how will you ever stop?

It’s time to stop doubting yourself, because no matter how much you think you should deny it, you are good enough. You were put on this planet for a reason, and that reason isn’t to doubt. You have a purpose, a life to live and people to meet. Every single human being on this earth is different from one another. We have different things to bring to the table and different backgrounds that shape who we are as individuals.

Who cares if people are watching? Being yourself is the most impressive thing that a person could do. Everybody makes mistakes, and the only thing that you can take away from those mistakes are lessons. Life goes on and it will not wait for you to catch up. If you want to sit back and doubt yourself in the meantime because of all the mistakes you’ve made, you’d spend the rest of your life missing opportunities to do better.

If somebody wants to come into your life and toy with your emotions, that isn’t something that you should blame on yourself. Not everybody in this world understands what you think and how you feel, and that is okay. Just because one person doesn’t think you’re worth it, it does not mean that there’s not someone out there who does.

You are never alone in anything you face, and quite honestly, you’d be surprised at how many people share your feelings and experiences as well. I’m not saying that doubting makes you weak because it doesn’t. But why do you think strong people seem so strong? They stand by themselves and no matter what mistakes they make, they don’t doubt who they are because of them.

So, stand tall and untuck the tail between your legs. Stop doubting yourself. You are worth it. You are capable of whatever you set your mind to. You can mend your own broken heart so that you are not a slammed shut withered door, but instead, a golden one open for all opportunities to come your way. You are not weak. You have an individuality that deserves to be shown off to the world. Embrace who you are and stop giving yourself a reason to doubt.