If you care about what other people think, you will always be their prisoner

If you care about what other people think, you will always be their prisoner.  Too true.  It took me years to figure this out.  I spent countless hours, days, weeks and years trying to impress the wrong people.  I always cared about what the “cool kids” thought about me.  I always wondered if they liked me.  I tried my best to be like them.  I wasn’t being true to myself; peer pressure is a funny thing.  I used to live my life as a prisoner, a prisoner in my own mind because I never thought I compared to anyone else.  There was always someone 'skinnier', even 'fatter', someone better at art, better at sports, a better friend, a better student, more popular...I mean the list goes on.  It's a bit of a fact of life, there will always be someone better at you than something, I realised I had to stop these destructive thoughts and be the best person I could be.

When I started to focus on myself, I realised this was no way to live.  I could no longer spend my life, trying to impress other people.  It was time to look after myself and be the best me I could be.  I started taking time out for myself and started to nourish my body as it deserved.  I became happier and my energy returned.  My days were no longer tiring and endless, rather fulfilling and rewarding.  I did not care anymore.  Why? I stopped trying to be like everyone else.  I slowly learned to stand for myself, to be an independent woman, to make my own decisions based on my health and well being, nobody else’s. So I started to realise what ‘truly happy’ felt like.

You have to try.  You have to want it.  You have to be willing to work at it during every minute of everyday.  You have to love yourself, but more importantly you must respect yourself enough to not let yourself become a prisoner to others.  Simply refuse.  It is time to make a stand for yourself, show the world who YOU truly are.  Stop caring what other people think, and just BE HAPPY!

Liz Xox