Too often, we let another person's opinion influence our life. We don't think for ourselves. We don't do what makes us happy. We conform to what society expects from us. We do what our friends say we should do. We take whichever route we think will make our parents happy. And that is not OK.

Sure, it's always a good idea to look at another persons perspective or take their ideas into consideration. But often times we don't think for ourselves and settle with the cards we are dealt. We feel like we don't have the ability to change our lives or follow our dreams because they're unobtainable. It wouldn't be considered a dream if it didn't sound crazy or it was easy to accomplish.

People who have settled and live comfortably are most times the first person to shoot down a dream of another person. They tell you it's not realistic and it's not how things work, and you know what? They're wrong. It is your dream. Not theirs. It is something that burns your soul and makes you lose sleep at night. It's the one thing that you can't get off of your mind and stop talking about. It's the first thing that crosses your mind when someone mentions your future.

Don't sell yourself short and give up on your dreams because they're unrealistic. Don't settle. Don't strive to live a comfortable life. Strive to live a life that's exhilarating. Live a life that fills your heart with happiness and pure joy. Have passion for what you do. Have passion for where you work and where you live. Don't settle into a job because it pays the bills. Don't buy a house because it looks nice. Take a job that pushes you out of your comfort zone and makes you look forward to waking up every morning to go to work. Buy a house that has everything you love whether it's in the city or the country or the suburbs. Choose the one with everything you've imagined from the beautiful kitchen and master bedroom you drool over on HGTV, to the pool in the backyard or the skyline view of the city.

Be fearless, and take on every risk to fulfill your dreams. Life is too short to live a life that is mediocre. No amount of suffering is worth living a life that is comfortable. In the face of doubt and adversity have the courage and the strength to pursue your dreams and live the life you've always imagined.