Don't give up.

“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. That surrender, even the smallest act of giving up, stays with me. So when I feel like quitting, I ask myself, which would I rather live with?” 

Just think about it...which would you rather? When you think back on something, which feeling would you rather sit with, reflect on...which would you regret? Take a step, take a leap...just don't give up. 

Shine.

So don't you worry your pretty little mind, people throw rocks at things that shine.

Taylor Swift said it right. People are scared of the unknown, they fear what is different. A different opinion, a different mind, a different style...it might not match our own, so instantly, we reject it. Don't let others put you down with their endless judgements. We all are too quick to judge. Too fast at cutting people off. We don't care enough to learn more, to experience something different, something bigger and maybe even something greater than ourselves.

We tend to be happy where we are, perhaps not moving forward, experiencing new and different things. We are comfortable with the known, with the simple.

They do it, we do it, you do it. We are all too quick to judge. So don't worry about what other people think, or what other people say...it's part of life, it's going to happen. Just be you and be absolutely happy with that. For what others might think about you, or say about you, or how they judge you...doesn't define who you are. 

Be true to you. For people fear the unknown. They are scared of what they don't know, what they don't understand...what is different. We are all the same. We shut it out, push it away and reject it. 

So don't fear rejection, don't fear to be different or expressive. Life is about changing things, about experiencing the unknown. Don't be afraid to be you and shine. Show your talents, show your personality, show the world who you are. And the world will see you shine.

"Replace fear of the unknown with curiosity."

It's all within you.

Pain is inevitable. 

Suffering is optional.

How do you handle the hard stuff? How do you feel with set backs, with let downs, with heart break? The truth is, they are a part of life. You get one step ahead, only to fall four steps behind. And for what? Do you give up, throw in the towel, say no more trying, no more falling in love, no more studying. Just like that? You'd let it all go?

Life is about how we handle the hard stuff. We're all going to fall down, trip, take three steps back in the wrong direction, that is life. And it's a known fact that things can get tough, and dark and messy.  So what are you going to do? Sulk in the corner, play the victim for another day and feel sorry for yourself? Of course you can do that. But it's not going to make your situation any better, by sitting there, worrying and stressing on all the 'wrong' things in your life. 

If you push away the dark, and the bad and the messy, shove it all in one corner, think about it, worry about it....then let it go. Sure, it might stay in the back of your mind, but it won't be constantly weighing you down. And why? Because behind all the dark, and the bad and the messy stuff, is all the good stuff. All the things we've been taking for granted, that friend, that guy or that girl....our job we never took too seriously. The truth is, maybe we don't have it so bad after all. When there is abuse in households, children starving halfway around the world, poverty in different countries, where do you stand?

Life is pretty darn good. And sure we fall, and we break down and we cry and we want to give up. But that's life. We are handled the struggles and pain, to make us stronger. We are only given what we can handle, and it aids to making our lives that much brighter. It causes us to look past the bad stuff and really realize everything that is good is already around us and within arms reach.

So you're constantly coming in second. Feel like you're not as pretty, as strong, or as nice as someone else. Stop thinking that way. Stop wanting people to like you as much as they like someone else. Stop comparing yourself and stop making excuses. Half the time, we push ourself and try that much harder because we have competition in our lives. Competition can be a good thing. Without it, you wouldn't push or try as hard. Maybe you fell down, and so what? Didn't you get right back up, kept trying, kept pushing. I bet you did, because you wanted something, you needed something. And without that competition, maybe it wouldn't have meant so much, been so enticing. Without that competition...maybe you wouldn't have tried at all.

So be thankful. For all your experiences, struggles, memories. They make up your beautiful life.

Stop comparing your life, your body, your hair, your personality. We are made uniquely different, because the world is different. We have different emotions, different reactions, that is what makes us beautiful and perfect. That is what makes up who we are. Don't try to change that or compare it. You're perfect, just as you are. With all of your experiences, struggled and triumphs. They are perfectly you.

So next time you fall and scrape your knee, the next time you are hurt or down in the dumps...remember it will be ok. There are better things out there, and reasons to why you're experiencing it. Sure, get angry, curse at the gods, it will probably make you feel better. But then forgive. Forgive the world for turning it's back on you, for letting you down. Forgive your parents, your friends, your boyfriend or girlfriend...just forgive the world, for what you think is causing all of the problems in your life. You have control, you get to decide how you handle it. So push past it, look at the bright side...it's there, shinning and waiting for you to finally realize it's been there all along.

We sometimes go through the bad, to help us realize the good.

So handle it how you may, but I hope at the end of the day you don't give up and you decide to be strong, because you are strong. I hope you push past the dark moments and the messy times, and forgive quickly. For when you let go of the hate, resentment and fear, when you let go of the being the victim in your own life, for there you will blossom. Your life is beautiful, and full of power. 

Realize it. 

It's all within you.