My whole life I've been insecure and worried about what others thought of me. Yes, it's okay to want to please everyone and make sure everyone likes you, but it's even more important to realize that it's not always going to happen like that. Eventually, you begin to lose yourself while trying to make everyone happy.

Sometimes you won't fit in with the "cool crowd" or be the most popular person of the class, and that's completely okay; that's what makes you unique. Don't change yourself to be classified as "cool" or "popular." You're cool in your own special way. Be the fish that swims against the current.

Respect yourself enough to stand up for what you believe in. Don't change your beliefs and convictions based on what other people think or say about you. What you believe in is what separates you from everyone else. If you lose that, you'll start to lose yourself. Forget respecting yourself, you should love yourself enough to stand up to ignorance.

Don't let others rule your life. I think one thing that everyone forgets to do is to live life for themselves. While trying to keep our friends happy we tend to let our own happiness slip right through our hands. Stop trying so hard to be what everyone else wants you to be. Start living for yourself, and God of course.

It's okay to cut out not-so-great relationships. It's 100% okay to cut off toxic friends and leave relationships that are no longer making you happy. Sometimes you have to do what's best for you. In the past, I've kept around friends that weren't really friends. I always walked on eggshells when it came to them and cried a lot of tears. It's the same thing with past relationships, if you have to walk on eggshells...leave as soon as you can.

Letting people make you feel any less beautiful than you are? Oh no, ma'am. Every girl is beautiful and NOBODY is perfect. Don't ever stress over someone who makes a rude comment about your appearance. You deserve so much better than that. It's these same people who usually have insecurities of their own. Just be the bigger person, turn a cheek, and leave them to dwell in their misery. Go be beautiful, chica.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, life is too short to not live a happy life. So stop playing a doormat and be the sunflower in a big open field. Stop stressing other's opinions and live life for God and yourself. Trust me, you won't regret it!