It's amazing what happens when you decide to dump the people that you were holding onto for absolutely no reason.

You know the ones I'm talking about: the ones that never texted you back, the ones that made you cry, the ones that started that rumor about you, the ones that took your significant other, etc. The list could go on for ages. These people can be people that hurt you and people that left you; they can be people that took you for granted and abused your tender heart.

These people are the toxins that are keeping you from being the person that God knows you can be, and it's time for you to let them go.

It all started with a moment: a moment in which I began to say no. In this moment, as I discovered my voice and my drive, I realized that saying no is only the first step to achieving true happiness. Once you find your limits and learn to control them, the next step is to remove the people from your life that are bogging you down; the people that thrive off negativity and hate.

Without someone in your ear telling you, "you can't," or someone pressuring you into a bad decision, you begin to see life from an entirely new angle.

Saying no is definitely easier than letting go, but in the end, you will come out a champion free of negativity and doubt, and with the right attitude, you'll get through this quicker than you thought you would.

As with any life milestone, there is a process in cleaning out the closet of your life. You'll have to look at every single item, sort the ones that you know are bad into one pile, the good in another, and the 'maybes' in a third. Once sorted, trash the bad ones immediately. Like I said previously, this won't be a walk in the park. Some of these people in the 'bad' pile may be people that you care immensely for, even though they don't care about you. If you find yourself struggling here, repeat the following words:

JUST. FREAKING. DO IT.

You literally have nothing to lose with these people. Yes, you may be saying goodbye to a friend or a boyfriend/girlfriend. Yes, that will hurt a lot, but you'll find happiness after you accept that those people weren't helping you grow. As a matter of fact, these people were most likely the cause of a significant portion of your self-doubt and lack of confidence or happiness. With them out of the way and your vision set straight, you can continue to climb the mountain that God has placed in front of you.

The people in the 'maybe' pile might be a friend that's hurt you, or an ex-lover, or one of your less enjoyed family members. Take some time to really assess these people. They may be worth having in your life. If they're not, say goodbye.

For the people that you know and love and accept to be supplemental to your life, take good care of them. Appreciate each of them and take more time to be an important part of their life as they are to you. With all the wrong people no longer sucking your positive energy, you can truly zone in on the people that mean the most to you.

I understand that this seems harsh, or even radical, but your happiness will not be found in people that make you miserable. It doesn't make sense to spend a major portion of your life pouring light into someone that doesn't appreciate it. If your goal is to live a meaningful life, then it begins with some cleaning and organization.

It's time to say goodbye to hurt and say hello to happiness. Stand up for yourself, embrace your individuality, and choose the people that will mutually help you grow as you help them.

You can no longer be controlled by toxic people. Let them go. You owe it to yourself.