You are imperfect, but so incredibly strong.

There might be flaws that cover your skin, there might be moments where you have failed or fallen, there might be a million and one things you’ve completely messed up, but at the end of the day, you have accomplished so much. At the end of the day, you have come so far from where you started, pushing through pain and fighting to find your footing again. At the end of the day, you have gained and grown so much. At the end of the day, just breathing and standing and continuing proves your strength. So realize that, and believe it.

You are imperfect, but beautifully unique.

There is no one like you. No one with the same little freckle on their nose; no one with the exact pigment of brown in their eyes. There is no one who can laugh with the same sound filling the room; no one who can run or draw or write or sing the way you can. There may be things you can’t do well; there may be things you can’t do at all. You will face moments where you feel low and helpless, unable to complete even the simplest of tasks. But it is on those days that you must remind yourself of who you are. You are different, and everything that makes you, you, is beautiful.

You are imperfect, but resilient.

Life has thrown you to the ground, stomped on you, then came back for more, just as you were stretching your sore muscles, ready to begin again. You have been given terrible days, tough mornings, nights where you cried yourself to sleep. But in all of those moments, you have somehow found the ability to open your eyes, to rise, to start a new day. Somehow, you have made it to this sliver of time—right here, right now—and this moment is enough. Even when you feel weak, remember the person you have become. You might not be perfect, but you are resilient. Let that power carry you through today, and all of the tomorrows you face.

You are imperfect, but you are valued.

There are people who see you beyond your physical appearance, beyond what you can give, beyond their selfish desires. There are people who see you as a soul rather than a person, as someone worth so much. There are people who love you simply because you have been born, because they claim you as theirs—their person, their daughter, their son, their friend, their lover, their mother, their brother, their role model. There are people who love you, simply because you are you.

You are imperfect, but worthy.

You won’t always say or do the right things. You won’t always toe a line, follow directions, be flawless and wonderful and selfless. But regardless of the mistakes you make, the times you fail, the people you let down—you are worthy. You are worthy of love, of respect, of affection, of care. You are worthy of kind words and support, worthy of gratitude and encouragement and positivity. No matter what the world says, you are worthy of unconditional love—from others, and from yourself.

You are imperfect, but forgiven.

There are things you have done that have hurt others. There are moments where your light hasn’t shined brightly, or has been dimmed by your poor choices. No matter the darkness around you, you are forgiven. You are human, and not meant to be perfect—remember this when you’re feeling low. Remember that there is a Savior who loves you, forgives you, cleanses you, and gives you new life. Remember that there is always room for second chances, for starting over, for beginning again. No matter how unforgivable you feel, you are allowed a new start.

You are imperfect, but loved.

You are loved by God, you are loved by family, you are loved by friends and strangers and people who you choose to give your heart to. It’s okay that you won’t always be perfect. It’s okay that you won’t always be the person you want to be. It’s okay that you will break rules and fall short and outright fail sometimes. Because who you are as a person is not dependent on what you have or haven’t done. Your worth is not measured by things of this world, but by your existence. You are worthy, simply because you are alive. And you are loved, so incredibly much.
 

Marisa Donnelly is a poet and author of the book, Somewhere on a Highway, available here.