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"If I’ve learned anything from life, it’s that sometimes, the darkest times can bring us to the brightest places.

I’ve learned that the most toxic people can teach us the most important lessons; that our most painful struggles can grant us the most necessary growth; and that the most heartbreaking losses of friendship and love can make room for the most wonderful people.

I’ve learned that what seems like a curse in the moment can actually be a blessing, and that what seems like the end of the road is actually just the discovery that we are meant to travel down a different path.

I’ve learned that no matter how difficult things seem, there is always hope.

And I’ve learned that no matter how powerless we feel or how horrible things seem, we can’t give up.

We have to keep going.

Even when it’s scary, even when all of our strength seems gone, we have to keep picking ourselves back up and moving forward, because whatever we’re battling in the moment, it will pass, and we will make it through.

We’ve made it this far. We can make it through whatever comes next."

- Daniell Koepke.

You don’t have to be what other people want you to be.

You don’t have to be interesting or agreeable or entertaining.

You don’t have to tone yourself down, quiet your voice, or hide your feelings.

You don’t have to be outgoing or spontaneous or sociable.

You don’t have to be thin or beautiful or anyone’s definition of attractive.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you authentically are, and you sure as hell don’t have to spend your time and energy trying to convince people that you’re worth keeping around.

The right people are going to recognize your worth. They are going to respect you, appreciate you, and accept you, without forcing you to compromise who you are.

Life is too short, and your happiness is far too important, to make room for anyone who treats you otherwise.

- Daniell Koepke.

Being strong doesn’t mean hiding your pain.

It doesn’t mean forgoing help when you’re struggling.

It doesn’t mean refusing to show sadness and vulnerability.

And it doesn’t mean carrying the burdens of life all by yourself.

Anything that prevents your healing and stifles your growth does not correspond with strength.

Being strong means refusing to tolerate people and things that wound your soul.

It means practicing self-care when you’re hurting.

It means honoring your feelings by actually allowing yourself to feel and express them.

It means treating yourself with compassion and kindness, even when you feel like you don’t deserve any.

It means doing what makes you happy and being with people who make you feel good, regardless of outside judgements.

It means asking for help when the weight of the world has become too much.

It means giving yourself permission to get your needs met by setting boundaries and using your voice.

It means forgiving yourself on the days that you’re struggling and can’t be brave.

It means challenging the voice telling you that you’re inadequate and worthless and reminding yourself, repeatedly, that you are enough.

- Daniell Koepke.

“Just because one person rejects you doesn’t mean you need to reject yourself.

Just because some people choose to disregard your worth and treat you without kindness doesn’t mean everyone will, and it certainly doesn’t mean you have to imitate their behavior.

The truth is that the way other people treat us isn’t about us—it’s about them and their own struggles, insecurities, and limitations.

You don’t have to allow their judgement to become your truth.

You may not be able to control what other people say or how they act, but you can always choose how you treat yourself.

You can choose who you surround yourself with, and who you let go of.

And no matter what your circumstances, you can choose to believe in yourself and your worth.

Because at the end of the day, trying to please everyone is exhausting and impossible.

No matter how you change or who you become, there will always be someone who doesn’t approve.

So instead of wasting your energy in a futile attempt to become someone that other people want you to be, give yourself permission to be exactly who you are.

And know that who you are is exactly enough. The right people will find their way into your life.

These are the people who will love and accept you wholeheartedly and without conditions.

These are the people who matter. Let go of the rest.

- Daniell Koepke.

You don’t ever have to apologize for feeling sad.

You aren’t being too sensitive.

You aren’t imagining things or being overdramatic.

You’re being true to yourself by honouring your emotions, and that is never something you have to feel ashamed of.

Whether you have a need that isn’t being met, an old wound that’s been reopened, a person in your life who is making you feel small, a painful memory of something from the past, or an emptiness from the loss of someone you care about — there is always something underlying our sadness, and whatever it is, it’s important and valid.

Whatever it is, it deserves to be expressed and felt.

- Daniell Koepke.

“There is a big difference between giving up and letting go.”

Giving up means selling yourself short. It means allowing fear and struggle to limit your opportunities and keep you stuck.

Letting go means freeing yourself from something that is no longer serving you.

It means removing toxic people and belief systems from your life so that you can make room for relationships and ideas that are conducive to your wellbeing and happiness.

• Giving up reduces your life. Letting go expands it.
• Giving up is imprisoning.
• Letting go is liberation.
• Giving up is self-defeat.
• Letting go is self-care.

So the next time you make the decision to release something or someone that is stifling your happiness and growth, and a person has the audacity to accuse you of giving up or being weak, remind yourself of the difference.

Remind yourself that you don’t need anyone’s permission or approval to live your life in the way that feels right.

No one has the authority to tell you who to be or how to live. No one gets to decide what your life should look like or who should be a part of it. No one, but you.”

- Danielle Koepke.

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