We live in a screwed up world, there’s no doubt about it. It’s a world obsessed with appearance, reputation, and self fulfillment. It’s a world where people are more concerned with being liked than with being honest and kind. It’s a world where being “cool” is of utmost importance and priority.

In a world so consumed with this idea, It’s hard to focus yourself on the opposite. I find too often that some people are so obsessed with the idea of being widely liked that they abandon their integrity, passions, and even their personality to the point where they’re no longer themselves; they’re like robots programmed by society's expectations.

Although I only have 17 years of life experiences under my belt, I have learned a few very valuable lessons along the way. One of the seemingly most important ones being that you are worth so much more than society's approval of you.

Seeking approval from others is evident in a variety of everyday 21st century activities, especially social media. An obsession with the number of likes or followers one has has sprung up, just adding to the many issues people already face revolving their self perception. The problem with social media is that it's an outlet for seeking and receiving validation. The reality of this validation though is that it's fake and superficial. The majority of those who comment or like your picture probably aren't even your friends, and they could easily have bad intentions. I get it, trust me, I love using Instagram just as much as the next girl, but I try to use it in a different way. Instead if using it for the purpose of receiving superficial validation, I use it to express myself and to illustrate how I view the world.

This a life of temporary happiness, insecurities and a desperate desire for validation. You can never get it right if you’re living to reach the world’s expectations of how you should be living. It’s an endless cycle. Nothing will ever be enough. No amount of likes, follows, shares, tags, or comments can fill the gap that can only be filled with authenticity. I want to encourage you to meditate in who you are and your identity while finding inner peace. Once you are able to fully understand who you are, none of those numbers matter anymore. When you are no longer a slave to society you are free to live for yourself: indulging in and sharing the things that make you happy to be who you are. Keeping perspective may be tough to do in times like these, but it’s rewarding beyond belief.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that “to be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” Don’t be swayed by the world around you, it’s nothing but a bunch of noise distracting you from finding your approval within.