It has taken me two decades of living on this earth to say this: don't be afraid.

Don't be afraid to walk away.

Don't be afraid to walk away from something or someone that is making you unhappy. It doesn't matter how long the thing or person has been in your life: if it is a toxic situation, you need to free yourself of that burden. Don't be afraid of what others might think, or of the worst outcomes that could result. Your happiness is the number one priority over others'. If you're unhappy, it affects all aspects of your life.

Whatever or whoever it is that is bothering you isn't worth another thought. Only you can control how you react, and what you do with your life. Life is too short to spend feeling that you cannot enjoy the time we have on this beautiful planet. Who cares about the consequences? In fact, this experience will make you an even stronger person, so there is a slim-to-none chance that there are any consequences.

Don't be afraid to take the risk.

Don't be afraid to put all your eggs into one basket. Do the thing that you have wanted to do your entire life, but made up excuses not to. Make that move across the country. Take the job promotion. Go skydiving. Chop your hair short or dye it a crazy color. Travel abroad. Be the first to say hello in a conversation. Give that random stranger a compliment on their outfit. Make the first move instead of waiting for that special someone to come up to you. Go to the school you've always wanted.

The more you hold back from taking a risk, the more likely you're going to regret withholding from the decision. There is no prediction of where that one situation will end up taking you. It could help you grow, meet new people, and give you a life you never would've dreamed of having. The "what ifs" are more detrimental than the "so whats".

Don't be afraid to be who you are.

There are 7 billion plus people on this planet, so there is not one exact replica of you. This is your superpower. Use being unique to your advantage. Get to know yourself-- strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, imperfections, and all. As you become comfortable within your own skin, your perspective will change.

Do whatever it is that lights a fire in your heart and awakens your soul. That passion is what is going to drive you to do great things. Take the time to find yourself, and what you like to do. When you are sure of yourself, your confidence skyrockets. Self-love is the greatest gift you can give to not only yourself, but to others.

Don't be afraid of your potential.

You don't know how much potential you have until you unleash it. If you want to change the world, it's not going to happen if you just sit there. The difference between the people that dream and the people that accomplish their dreams is this: the people that accomplish them are go-getters. No one who made history was silent-- their voices were heard.

All you need is what is inside already: strength, persistence, dedication, and drive. Don't let the fear of what could happen to hold you back from contributing positively to the world. No matter what it is, you're capable of achieving it if you set your mind to it. Never underestimate yourself.

I'm tired of feeling afraid. It's time to change.

Throughout my life, I've always felt that I could never fully express myself. My voice never was heard-- it was hushed amongst the thousands of other voices competing for validation. Others have tried to tear me down by telling me I'm not good enough, accusing me of things that I am not, and doing everything in their power to stop me from achieving my goals. It's time to stand up to all of it.

It's time to not care about what others think. I'm putting my happiness, dreams, and well-being before others'. I know I was meant to make an impact, and it's time to stop doubting myself. No more uncertainty, no more self-destruction, and no more wishing instead of doing.

I'm not afraid to be in control of my life and my destiny. I'm not afraid of my potential. I'm not afraid to be myself. I'm not afraid to go all in. I'm not afraid to let go of things that are going to limit me from growing.

I'm not afraid, and neither should you be.