Ever notice how many inspirational quotes we have around us? I was sitting at my desk this morning attempting to write this blog and saw two – 2!! – right beside me. Inspiration is everywhere – coffee mugs, notepads, calendars, artwork – the list goes on and on. I’ve even seen them on the wall in the gym. But what do these slogans actually do? We read them, maybe take a few minutes to appreciate the sentiment, and then move on with our lives. Is there a lasting impact to these statements?

Perhaps if we said these kinds of words aloud to each other more often, there might be.

Think back over the past few years and all the people you know who’ve committed suicide. Sure, there’s the famous people – Robin Williams, Chris Cornell, Lee Thompson Young, Chester Bennington, and most recently, Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. But there are also the people you may know personally who’ve suffered from depression or other mental illness and chosen to end their own lives.

I look at society today and see all the hate being spread around – and no, I won’t turn to politics or religion or any other issue – this isn’t the place. There are so many hate-filled rants out there today on social media. Sitting behind a keyboard allows a person to say things that feel anonymous but have real consequences.

I don’t suffer from depression or mental illness, so I don’t profess to know the struggle. What I do have – like so many others – is self-doubt. I tend to put off writing blogs as long as possible (insert “until my marketing director starts throwing a tantrum”). Why? Because I’ve convinced myself that what I have to say isn’t important or interesting or funny. Why would someone care what I have to say?

So today, I’m here to say – I matter! And so do you! Be yourself. Stand proud. Reach for the stars.

What if our words reflected something positive? What if we heard encouragement and support from those around us? What if we did follow our dreams and no one made fun of us?

If you want to change your path, start internalizing the positive. Stop listening to the negative. I read something recently that said if you want to improve your self-esteem, sing naked in front of the mirror every day. So ladies and gentlemen, use that flat iron as a microphone and sing at the top of your lungs!