Success and value

It's so easy to get caught up feeling like you should do something because it's what other people expect you to do, or to want to succeed so that you don't let others down. Sometimes thinking like this can help us strive to do our best, because we feel held accountable, but other times it's just not healthy. I'm so very thankful that I've had so many people in my life that have been willing to support me no matter what decisions I make. Even when my decisions lead to failure, they're just waiting to support me in what I choose to do next. I have been tempted, and given in, on many occasions, by what other people think I should do, or what they think would be best for me. People all the time just assume what I will go onto next in life, or make judgements about my choices, but I have got so much better at brushing hurtful things off, and thinking of them as like sandpaper that helps smooth and refine me into a better being. So, I am thankful for the critics as well. I chose to work and travel right after school, rather than going to university, like many people expected me to. I went to university (and have almost finished a degree!) in my own time, switched degrees, put it on hold to travel some more, transferred universities, worked for over 6 years in a job that people think is below me and my potential status or pay packet purely because I love it and I love the difference I am able to make in people's lives through it, and all that kind of stuff, and am so very glad that I went about things exactly the way that I did. I've learnt lessons and had experiences that never would've happened otherwise.
Value is something else we all struggle with every now and then, I think. Feeling valued and appreciated does so much for a person, so long as their motivations are coming from the right places. It's important not to do things or make decisions purely to get people to like you or to make yourself feel cooler. People are always going to let you down and make you feel unwanted. They're human beings, it's in their nature. How many Facebook friends you have doesn't say anything about how much you're really valued! True value and love comes from God. We should be striving to love people and make them feel valued and loved, because they are just as much God's children as we are.
I'm speaking to myself here. And I have no idea where any of this came from. I wasn't even planning on writing a blog post, and yet here it is.