We all need something to believe in.

At some point, we all develop a foundation in belief. A place we allow our confidence to grow. Most often this happens during childhood. We are young and impressionable and looking for something we can trust.

This trust forms in all sorts of arenas. From the moment of our birth, we are guided in a specific direction, being molded and prepared for our encounters with the world. Our initial experiences teach us what to trust and what to avoid. Sometimes this develops a misguided foundation in belief.

Forms of belief are crafted in safety.

Safety is our home. It is where we find a place to develop our beliefs. When we find a safe place in life we easily adapt its ideals and philosophies as our own. This is how we protect ourselves. This new belief becomes a shield of protection.

We allow our beliefs to guide our choices in hopes of continued safety in the world.

For some it is religion. They find hope and the ability to do life with the help of a higher power. A god, or gods that have a list of requirements to perform. By maintaining these requirements your belief is rewarded.

Others trust other forms of spirituality. For example, they look to the stars, they read palms, they trust fate. They find something to believe that helps them feel safe. Something they can trust that will give them the confidence to live their life.

Some people find the ability to believe in someone close to them. A spouse, a parent, a mentor, friends. This is their way of having direction and clarity on how to live their life.

But what do we do when these beliefs fail?

We all have times where the things we trust fail us. This is hard to deal with because it has been our belief has been our foundation. How do you respond to hard situations?

I used to be a deeply religious person. I lived each day trying to live by a set of standards that would provide safety in my life. Then a day came when my world still fell apart. I had taken all the right steps and when I needed the support, my religion failed me.

Then the other things I trusted failed me. My friends left when it got too hard, my mentor didn’t have time for my problems and my parents didn't have the answers to solve the pain in my life.

When you are all that’s left.

All I had left was me. There can be a lot of pressure when we have to stand up on our own for the first time. It removes all that safety you had been hiding behind all your life. All of a sudden you have to believe in yourself. You have to be enough.

I have found that in my life there is always one constant. Me.

There is never a time where I am not in my life. I am the one thing that is always there. This is true for you as well. You are the only thing that will never stop being present in your life. No matter how hard it gets and no matter who fails you, you will always have yourself to fall back on.

This alone shows that you have something unique to offer. You have you. No one else has you. You are uniquely positioned to make an impact in our world. In any situation and no matter what happens you are the only one who can offer your personal perspective. Your voice is important.

Each of us has a story to contribute.

Your story is unique to you. Imagine with me that you wake up one morning and you take the bus to get to work. Along the way, people get on and people get off. Each of these people has their own destination. It differs from yours because they live a different life.

They work somewhere you don’t and they live somewhere that you don’t. Each of them goes home and waters a different house plant, pets a different cat and watches a different TV. Or perhaps they are are a dog person and none of this applies.

But no matter where they end up, they have unique experiences that will never be yours. What makes their lives and experiences better than yours? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. This is why you can always come back to yourself in the end.

You are you and no one can take that away.

Don’t let what you have to offer, get lost to the noise of our world. Step forward and share who you are with those that can and will be inspired. When we believe in ourselves we encourage others to do the same.

There is only one me. And there is only one you.