Don't let society put you in a box.
When I played football, too many people tried to label me. People thought of me as nothing more than an athlete, without any life beyond sports. People thought of me as nothing more than my job, and unfortunately, my story isn't unique. Far too often, people judge for all the wrong reasons. Instead of judging character, they judge the color of someone's skin. Rather than understanding someone's past, people judge their present. The worst part? Both parties believe the judgement, regardless of how irrational it might be.
Stop trusting the judgement.
Far too often, I see people who don't think they can succeed in the present because of their pasts. I see people who have lost sight of who they truly are, and who have lost hope of ever achieving their visions. We live in a judgmental world, and social media has only made that fact worse. Too many of us have learned victimhood, but let me tell you something—you are more than their opinions. You are more than their judgement, and you are more than what you've been labeled as. You are more than your environment, and you are more than your worst circumstances. You are more than your pain, and you are worth far more than you think you are.
Are you operating on the basis of your aspirations, or are you giving in to your perceived limitations? Most people are more confident about what they can't do than what they can, and most people don't understand that at the end of the day, nobody can stop you from doing what you want to do. No one can stop you for being who you want to be, or believing what you want to believe. No one can put limitations on you unless you let them, so if you've felt judgement in one way or another, I have a piece of advice for you. Don't let them limit you. Stop living for the dreams of others, and stop letting opinions dictate your future and shape your destiny. Your life is yours and yours alone, so why are you catering it to those who deserve it far less than you? Your energy is finite, so why are you investing it in all the wrong places?
We all deserve to become the people God meant for us to become. At the end of the day, we all have the capability to do that, as well. What's required on our parts? Nothing more than a little faith. All God needs from us is discipline and consistency, because He already wrote the book—all you've got to do is refuse to erase it.
It all starts with you.
