If you haven't heard the term "You're just going through a phase" at least once in your life, then you must have had an incredibly blessed existence thus far.

If you have, then you probably know that there are many different kinds of rebellious phases in the world.

You could be like this:

Or this:

And there's always this:

Just don't be like this:

Rebellion, as we see it today, can seem like something horrible. Those who may have "lost their way" are looked down on and regarded as unsuccessful or worrisome. However, although sticking it to the man isn't necessarily a good thing, there is something to be learned from a phase of defiance, and it can stay with you for the rest of your life.

As youths get older and begin to discover the wonders of individuality, they start to question their authority. This may begin as young as the middle school ages, or may not strike until the influences of college life come knocking at the door. Rebellious phases can short lived and brief, but can also take over a person and completely change their character as a whole. No matter the experience or longevity, rebellion doesn't have to be a bad thing. Rebellion shapes us as people. When we become the masters of our fate, we give ourselves the freedom to learn, grow, and discover who we are as people.

When you're constantly fitting into a mold and following what others tell you, there is no room for true development. Discovering yourself comes from figuring out what's best for you. Giving yourself the chance to find your limits, measure your own beliefs - not the beliefs of your superiors - and learn from a mistake or two can help build you into a person of experience that knows what life is like from multiple sides of the table.

I'm not shy to admit that I went through quite a few rebellious phases. However, unlike other wild and crazy humans, I didn't hide it. When I was 17, my parents knew that I would sneak out and meet friends on the beach to climb the pier and talk about shenanigans. In college, I experimented with parties, I went to raves, and I, for once, let go of the things that I knew kept me together. I ran away from who I was, I ran from God and ran away from my moral values. I ran until I realized that there was nothing to run from; that this life of foolish actions and making mistakes and staying up until the break of dawn wasn't who I was or where I was supposed to be.

As soon as I realized that, my eyes opened to an entirely new life. I found myself - my true self - hiding in a mold of lessons learned from my parents and lessons learned from rebellion. Every experience that I had in my life thus far has helped to create the person that I am today. Being in a rebellious phase allowed me to see life from the perspective of an outsider. From that view, I developed a new sense of love for every kind of human, no matter their place in life, and I began to build my own thoughts, beliefs, and opinions on our world as a whole. I realized that we are all rebellious in one way or another, and every ounce of rebellion can help us to become people of a greater potential, no matter the situation.

Rebellious phases don't have to be bad. There is a time in everyone's life for breaking away from the molds of society and discovering one's true self, and that self can be anything, from a successful businessman to a planet loving hippie guru. Phasing out of my rebellious phase allowed me to realize that individuality is essential in this world. I discovered a new sense of appreciation for my family, my God, my close friends, and my values as a unique being in a world that morphs every human to the same mold.

To the rebels of the world, do what you need to do, but don't fall into the rebellions of no return. Open your eyes, see who you are, and begin to grow. You are more than your mistakes, and you have the potential to turn your actions of defiance into lessons of morality and maturity. Do not go gently. Fight for your spirit, harness that power, and grow into something good, because you owe it to yourself to make something beautiful out of the life that you have been blessed with.