Since a very young age, we've been told that we make people proud or that someone is happy to know us or be a part of our lives. As much as that feels good, how often do we say that to ourselves or think of the accomplishments we've made that made us happy?

I know I can say that I've personally spent more time being disgusted by my personal image. I've spent time being upset that I got a B in a class rather than an A or just filling my head with so much negativity that I never stopped to look at all of the things that I've accomplished. I've only ever found gratification in the thoughts of someone else and how they viewed me or what my accomplishments have meant to them rather than stopping to realize that I'm doing this for me.

I recently made a pact with myself to be more positive and to use my strengths to my advantage and learn from my mistakes. I've made a pact with myself that as much I appreciate knowing someone is proud of me, at the end of the day, I am the only one who has to live with my choices. I need to make sure that I satisfy my personal needs and make sure that I'm living a happy and healthy lifestyle before I can worry about how someone else feels based on my actions.

Once you stop living to satisfy others, your personal happiness becomes yours. You are then justifying your actions, your flaws and your ideas of satisfaction, rather than the standards someone else expects you to live up to. Once you begin living for you, nobody will ever be allowed to strip you of life again.