My whole life, I’ve been a people-pleaser, and never saw the problem with it. I thought that making other people happy and trying to be friends with everyone was the most important part of who I am. But what I’ve come to realize is this; listening to other people doesn’t mean you’re doing the right thing, and just because a boy thinks you’re attractive or fun to be around isn’t going to make you feel fulfilled in the long run. Sure, these things feel nice in the moment, but that feeling doesn’t last forever.

At the end of the day, the only decisions you’ll feel confident about are your own. Sure, it can be scary to take matters into your own hands and it may seem easier to let other people guide you, but you can’t rely on other people for everything. Sometimes even the people that have the best intentions for you don’t know you as well as you do. I used to think being a pushover just meant you were nice, but now I know that just giving in to other people doesn’t make you nice.

In your life, you will meet many people that will come and go from your life, each with their own perspective of the world and of you. Not everyone you meet is going to like you, but that shouldn’t define you. The only opinion that should define you is your own, because at the end of the day, the only person that is always by your side is yourself. So instead of spending all your time and energy trying to make other people like you, focus on making you like you. Dress the way that makes you feel good, do the things that make you happy, and spend time with the people that make you happy all regardless of what the people around you think about it.

When it comes down to it, being nice to people isn’t a bad trait, but letting people push you around is…so take a step to stand up for yourself and love yourself because your decisions and your opinion is all that really matters