Dear Self,

Dear Self,

Well, to start off—I am so proud of you. Life hasn’t been too easy on you lately, and I am truly sorry about that. But despite it all, you have managed to keep your head up and you continue to fight.

Be proud of everything you have gone through, and mostly, what you’ve become.

Stop being so hard on yourself. Everything will make sense to you one day. All the pain, hurt, and frustration will become worth it. Rmember, everything happens for a particular reason. You are in the exact place you are meant to be right now. So breathe, be patient, and trust the course of your life. Let go of all the expectations you have created in your head. Accept reality as it comes. Accept life for what it is.

Even though you think you are broken right now, there is so much beauty in your pain. You are stronger than anything that has tried to tear you down. You are a survivor, not a victim. We both know you’re doing the best you can—celebrate that sometimes.

Create a meaningful life for yourself that you can be proud of. Promise me, you will make the most of it all. Never let anyone get in the way of your goals in life. More importantly, never give up on your passions and your dreams. Do not waste your time on people who do not believe in you. You don’t need anyone like that in your life. Only surround yourself with people who encourage and inspire you.

Help others. Be a good friend and make sure you find enough log for yourself.

You are so strong, my dear. You have been through a lot and come out on the winning end. The world has tried to break you, but you never let it. Thank your past, for it has made you into a better person today.

Thank you for never giving up and being so tough.

You inspire others and you life them up. Stay strong. Stand up tall. Be more beautiful than ever. Make them wonder how you do it.

You know you deserve the world, now go get it.

This open letter was written by Kiana Azizian and was originally published on Thought Catalog.