In my experience, very few things cut as deeply as when the things in life you care about the most are made fun of or belittled. Even if in a small way, when your vision is slowly being tinted by the frames of others who can’t see the same beauty you see, it hurts. You can feel shame, disgrace, unease, uncertainly, and lose all self-esteem as easy as that.

I’m 20 now, but I’ve had a vision for my life since I was 14 and I’ve been pursuing it ever since, but along the way the worst parts of my life have always been when people rejected my vision for creating an arts & entertainment studio and going on mission work in various countries, when my aim and purpose are suddenly painted and brushed aside like graffiti vandalized on a wall, overlooked and disrespected.

We all feel this way, especially in the age where everything important about you can be narrowed down to a 1-page document or a paper worth 12 years of hard work plus whatever extra for extended education, and we create social media profiles and even personas that could never depict everything that we truly are but will always be how we are judged by others, and when our words fall flat and fail to express the big picture of everything you are and more importantly, everything you dream to become.

There is so, so much more to you than any resume, degree, or social media profile will ever say about you. The human psyche is such a diverse, profound, and invaluable balance of dreams and ideas. That’s what makes every individual irreplaceable, and why every dream you hold and every vision you possess should be prized, valued, loved, and cherished.

“The human race is filled with passions. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.” – John Keating (Dead Poets Society)

Bottom line, never be ashamed of your visions, your passions, the things you love, because they’re unique to you and even if there are few who will never approve or stand by it, let their doubts only fuel your faith. They can’t see the same vision. The person at the base of the mountain can’t see the same view of the world as the one who’s climbed to the top.

“Just because someone hasn’t been fortunate enough to realize how beautiful you are, doesn’t mean you shine any less.” – Summer Glau

Don’t feel discouraged. Never feel ashamed. You may not be able to control the opinions of others, but you can control how far you pursue your goals, and that’s all that matters. No shame, all love.