I think a lot of people get caught up in their daily lives and the people they are around. They are so caught up that they almost forget what they deserve. It is so important to put yourself first. Value who you are and what you want above everything else. You and your overall happiness come first. I know a good amount of people, myself included, who struggle or have struggled with standing up for what they need in their lives. The reason this is so crucial is because being able to fight for yourself and what you want gives you a special sense of independence and power.

I am writing about this because I am one of those people who hasn't always fought for myself. I know first hand that it can be hard to vocalize what you want. If there is any advice I can say is DON'T SETTLE in a relationship. I think that so many young women settle for so much less, because they can't find people who respect them enough to value their standards. This is true in friendships and relationships. No one wants to be around someone they can't talk to. No one wants to surround themselves with people who don't pay attention to how they feel. In any relationship, whether it's family, friends, or romantic relationships, I believe there needs to be a two way effort. If one person doesn't respect who you are and what you want in life, then why be around them if it just puts you down?

Value yourself. Allow yourself to be around those who make you a better version of yourself. Be around those who listen to you and never put you down. The hard part is that it is much easier said than done. For me, I have the personality that makes me a pleaser. I have never liked to ask for what I want. I have a hard time standing up for myself. I have a hard time valuing things that are important to me. Recently, I have begun to stop settling for less. There are so many things that I expect from people and I will not lessen my values for the convenience of others anymore. I think that, having always been associated with being the girl that is "too nice", has held me back a lot. Yes, I am way too nice sometimes, but I can definitely say that being able to stand up for myself feels pretty damn good.

When it comes down to it, it is all about knowing yourself and respecting yourself. Surround yourself with people because they truly care about you, will respect who you are, and what you want for yourself. There shouldn't be any room for people who criticize you or make you feel less than you are. Your feelings and your values are 100% valid. Never allow anyone to make you feel lesser than you are and tell you that your thoughts do not matter. I don't care who it is or how long they have been have been in your life. Have some self respect. And, I know, because like I said I have done it, that it is easy to shy away and let people control you. But do you really want to be around someone who doesn't even let you have a voice? Do you really want to be a part of someone's life if they can't even listen to you? I sure don't.

Let yourself be free from those tangled situations. The toxic relationships you hold in your life only hold you back from being the better version of yourself. Don't shy away. Don't fall short of the amazing person you are. We are who we are and we feel how we feel. It is that simple. So, surround yourselves with those who respect who you are and how you feel!

YOUR VALUES MATTER!