” I don’t have to prove anything to anyone, I only have to follow my heart and concentrate on what I want to say to the world. I run my world.” – Beyonce

If anyone knows anything about me, they know that I love Beyonce. I admire the platforms that she stands for. She promotes empowerment of women, education of young children, health, black rights, civil rights, women rights… the list goes on and on.

I find this quote very relatable in the sense that I’ve recently begun to understand that our daily interactions with the world should be purposely chosen for ourselves. The choices I make in life reflect my own dreams and wants. I want to choose things based on the non-popular decisions, and often try to choose the path less taken. One way I’ve improved on this is by knowing the difference between “opinion” vs. “advice.” If I ask someone for advice I expect them to be neutral about the situation, analyze it respectively, and tell me their thoughts. Where as, if I ask for an opinion I expect a subjective answer as if they put themselves in my shoes and told me what they would do while in my situation.

As a twenty-one year old women I find myself often caught in the drama and BS of society around me. It’s easy to judge, compare and second-guess in this highly media influenced lifestyle we have in this 21st century Western culture. Through the hard way I have discovered that none of this social comparison or petty judgement really matters. It’s my own life, my own adventures, and my own choices.

Beyonce says it perfectly. “I don’t have to prove anything to anyone.” I can be my own person and focus on myself and my dreams. It has taken time for me to improve my strength and become a women who understands what it means to take part in this world. I don’t have to prove to others that I am a strong women. I am a women of worth, power and confidence.

So what is the take home message from all of this?

Why are you working so hard to please others? It’s your world. It’s your life.

Be the person that you want to be, because at the end of the day your life experiences and choices are going to make you happy.

I want you to realize that you can live the life you’ve imagined for yourself!

-Liv