In life, we often forget that we have the capability to bounce back.
We forget that we don't have to accept disrespect, and we forget that we deserve to be happy. We forget that we deserve peace in our lives, and we accept things we shouldn't rather than fixing them. When it comes to making choices, it's all too easy and all too common to make excuses instead of changes. Let me tell you something—you have the capability to progress toward your best self.
Never forget that you are in control. You have the ability to progress toward something better, and you deserve to find happiness. Some people reach a place in life where they're so stuck in all the pain and loss that they forget happiness is still an option. They learn helplessness instead of victory, and their self-worth becomes clouded. Whoever out there is reading this, I need you to know that nothing is impossible.
Stop settling for less.
It's time for you to remember who you are. Remember that you were created for a specific, profound purpose, and then you'll have made the first step toward achieving it. People ask me one question all the time. They ask me, "Trent, how do you love yourself?" My answer to that question is simple—the first step to loving yourself is realizing that your worth is internal. God created you for a reason, and you were born worthy of greatness. Far too often, we tend to let external influences persuade us to feel negatively about ourselves. There are many types of external negativity, ranging from toxic friends to situations we shouldn't keep ourselves in.
No matter how strong those external influences appear, they can only label you. They don't have control over who you really are, and your worth is not dependent on what anyone says or thinks about you. If you are in a dark place, I want you to remember that the negative labels people may have assigned you are just that—labels.
Stretch your arms and shake those labels off, because in five or ten years from now, it won't matter what someone told you about yourself. It won't matter how many friends you had at that stage of your life, or how many people who were uninvolved with your purpose supported you. All that will matter is whether or not you stayed committed to your vision.
It's time to stop holding yourself back. Sure, there are bad environments, but let me tell you something—complaining won't get you anywhere, not even when it's valid. Your excuses won't translate to success. Only your effort and discipline will.
It all starts with you.
