In the past months I have come to a profound realization. My enlightenment relates to how others influence the way you feel about yourself. That being said, from past experiences I now know it is prudent that I have confidence in my choices and stick to them whenever they are questioned.

For the most part, I don't necessarily care what people think of me, i.e my appearance, the brands I choose, etc. But the truth is, when someone close to you gives their opinion on a certain situation pertaining to you, there is obviously going to be some impact on the way you feel about yourself. This is exactly what has happened to me for basically my whole entire life. I have always allowed myself to be the guilty one, or rather let others sway my initial thoughts on a choice I have made because they didn't agree. Personally, I am rather astounded for letting myself be submissive. To have this said characteristic is quite complex if you think about it. The concept entails giving up all self-governance to others, who in the end determine your emotions and thoughts. Really think about this... how can we give others the right to our minds? Why should we ever let someone influence the way we feel because they disagree and feel as though your actions are unjust?

As a society, we are encouraged to be ourselves and do what we want. The common mindset is self-love, which factors in only one person: yourself. Yet for years I have allowed close friends, peers, relatives and many more to sway my feelings about previous choices. The truth is, I don't feel guilty or ashamed of anything I have done. I refuse to feel regret over a situation, either minuscule or hefty. My decisions are my own, and nobody is in charge of them. Clearly, when we make a choice, it is with our own will and courage to go out there and do it. That is why we should no longer let others knock us down. My mother, a best friend and inspiration to me, once told me to not be passive towards others. She often tells me to keep my personal life to myself, because at the end of the day, it's my own life and no one else's. This small message is rather weighty. In truth, we dictate our own lives, which is why there should be no influence from others on how we feel about ourselves.