Many of you have probably seen the movie or read the book Perks of Being a Wallflower, and if you have, then you've heard this quote before. Chances are, you heard the quote and thought it was a really nice and meaningful, romantic quote. However, you most likely did not really think about the deeper meaning of it. The book/movie uses this quote because it is more or less about an introverted teenage boy with some self-esteem troubles, but it is very applicable to the lives of many teenagers and young adults today. Recently, one of my good friends brought this quote up when I was thinking about how some relationships just don't work out, or aren't exactly what I wanted or expected. And I started to think about what this quote really means.

Self-esteem problems are all too common in teenagers and young adults these days, because celebrities and social media, among other things, have a huge effect on people. A major problem with young women in society today is that many expect, as well as accept, poor treatment from men. It is all too common nowadays. We see relationships in the media, or in TV shows and movies, where the woman in the relationship is treated poorly and is pushed aside by the men in her life, and she just takes it. She does not stand up for herself, or leave the guy that is treating her poorly, because she thinks that it is okay. Well ladies, it is not okay.

Sometimes, the love we think we deserve is not actually what we deserve whatsoever. Often, we have a bad experience with one person, it can make us second-guess everything we thought before the negative experience took place, and it makes us settle. We settle for poor treatment from a subpar guy, just because we don't think that we deserve more. We don't think we can find anything better. Or we doubt that we will find someone who will actually appreciate us for who we are, and that is where things go wrong.

In our social media based society, girls are constantly flooded with images of “relationship goals", or the ideal appearance of a relationship. These are huge contributors to the problem. Most girls do not think that anyone could ever be that ideal guy for them, yet they want a relationship, so they settle for the next best thing. The next best thing is often a guy who puts them on the back burner, and makes them second to basically anything in his life. He is someone who only wants to be in a relationship when it is convenient for him. In order to change this, young women need to realize that we deserve more.

The quote, “we accept the love we think we deserve", is a quote that can influence our entire outlook on a relationship. Knowing what you deserve is the first step in getting what you actually want, and not accepting anything less than that. Why would you settle for something less?

So girls, never settle for anything less than what you want or what you think you deserve. Wake up every morning and know that you are amazing just as you are. You have the right to get exactly what you want, so no matter what: accept the love you KNOW you deserve.