I am a gay man, and I am powerful.

I know this because I was born into a world that did not love me for who I am. And so I had to learn to love myself. Though this was a difficult path, it showed me how powerful I am. From tapping into this strength, I have thrived. And I know myself much better for having gone through it.

Because I have come such a long way, it can be easy to forget that there is even more to me and my power yet to be discovered. So when life is tough for me…when I am down, when I am out of control, when I do not feel healthy or fulfilled…it can be easy to think that my life can’t be better. That this is all there is.

But I can remind myself that I have changed my life for the better before. And all it takes to change is imagination.

If I can imagine being happy, I will be. If I can imagine having choices, I will have them. If I can imagine getting what I want, it will come to pass. If I can imagine feeling wonderful, so be it.

For it is my own will that determines the kind of life I live. As a gay man, I know this better than anyone.

But just as I did not have to change in order to love myself before, I do not have to change to love myself now. It was learning how to love myself exactly as I am that changed me. And it is what will do it again.

And I know all of this because I know myself.

For I am a gay man, and I am powerful.