Happiness is a Personal Choice

I have decided to be happy, that I deserve to be happy. I no longer debase myself, no longer hate myself. I have made mistakes, and I have atoned for them. There is no reason for me to repeatedly punish myself for anything. There is no need to hate myself.

I no longer base my self-worth on societal standards or the standards set forth by my parents. I am a good person and I love myself.

I am responsible for my own feelings, my own desires and my own needs. No one can change me, no one can sway me, no one can persuade me; I am in charge of my thoughts, my actions and my reactions. I do not need validation, I do not need support. I am all the support that I need.

I cannot change others, and I do not want to change others. I no longer wish to convince anyone of anything. I no longer wish to change the world, because I cannot change other's point of view.

I live in my own world, in my own dream, in my own perception of reality, and you do the same. We may agree about certain things, and perceive certain things in a similar way, and we call that 'knowledge', but our interpretation of that knowledge could never be the same.

These are the agreements that I have made with myself. This is life I live. This is my freedom.