Most of the time, we give up on life, refusing to become the person we are capable of becoming either because we think we have missed the opportunity or because we do not believe we can aspire for more. We condemn ourselves to live the rest of our lives being someone we are not, assuming we will never become who we were meant to be for whatever reason we may have. But the truth is, it is never too late to become the person we were meant to be.

Some people know from the very beginning of their lives what they want to do and who they want to become, and they do everything they can to achieve that. Some succeed, others are still trying. Some people didn’t know what they wanted to do or who they wanted to become, and suddenly, as if by magic, they realized it and did everything they could to achieve it. Some of them succeeded, while others are still trying.

Then, there are those who don’t know what they want to do or who they want to become, but they never give up and settle. And then, some may know or may not know what they want, but they give up—they accept life as it was presented to them, living a life they don’t want, being someone they are not. They refuse to keep trying, condemning themselves to a life of failure.

“The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself.” – Mark Caine

I used to think I was a complete failure but realized I wasn’t. When I was a teenager, my life was a mess. I never fit in, and I hated myself for that. I was never the kind of girl with lots of friends at school. In fact, I was the one everyone laughed at. I wasn’t the cool kid, the pretty, the badass, or the smart one. I was the shy girl, always sitting in the back of the classroom, crying silently. I had no friends, my grades at school were terrible, my relationship with my family was a disaster, and the relationship with myself was even worse. I was my own worst enemy.

I blamed myself for not being the person everyone expected me to be—always trying and constantly failing. I didn’t know what I wanted to do or who I wanted to become, and if I had a small idea, I would destroy it quickly simply because I thought I wasn’t good enough. I believed I was a failure. But I wasn’t. I was being the person I needed to be because that person shaped who I am today. After 27 years, I know what I want and who I want to become. I might not be there yet, but one lesson I’ve learned from life is: Never give up. You never know what you can miss if you do. And if you give life a chance, it will surprise you.

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” – E.E. Cumings

I’m not the only one who has waited many years to realize their purpose, and I’m not the only one fighting to achieve it. Many people didn’t find success until they were considered “old” by society, which teaches that the older you get, the more obsolete you become. That’s bullshit. There is no right time to become the person you were meant to be. The first and most important thing is to believe in yourself—know you can become anything you want. Secondly, discover your life’s purpose. Thirdly, do everything you can to achieve it.

Don’t worry about time, and don’t let it stop you. If you still think you are not capable of being the person you were meant to be, for whatever reason you may have, I’ll show you a few examples of people who were doing something completely different before becoming the person they were destined to be. A few examples:

• At age 23, Oprah was fired from her first reporting job.
• At age 24, Stephen King worked as a janitor and lived in a trailer.
• At age 27, Vincent Van Gogh failed as a missionary and decided to go to art school.
• At age 28, J.K. Rowling was a suicidal single parent living on welfare.
• At age 30, Harrison Ford was a carpenter.
• At age 30, Martha Stewart was a stockbroker.
• Samuel L. Jackson didn’t get his first movie role until he was 41.
• Morgan Freeman landed his first MAJOR movie role at age 52.

And there are many other examples out there. Just look at them, and then think again—is it really too late to be the person you were meant to be?

“You are never too old to set another goal, or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis

Some people inherit success, others have to work hard to achieve it. But what determines one’s success is the ability to discover the reason for our existence and live according to it. Being the best version of ourselves and doing what we love is the key to a fulfilled life. Don’t settle for a life that is less than you deserve. It doesn’t matter where you are, who you are with, or what you are doing—you can always become the person you truly want to be. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

If you haven’t discovered what you want or who you want to become, don’t worry. You will find it sooner or later if you don’t give up. And if you already know, but you feel far from achieving it, don’t worry. Time is an illusion. Success will knock on your door sooner or later if you don’t give up.