“However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.” This statement came from a British Theoretical Physicist, Stephen Hawking. Despite his disability, a rare early-onset-slow progressing form of motor neuron disease, he still moved forward. It was hard for him at first but hardships can make you stronger. He won multiple awards including the Dirac Medal of the Institute of Physics and Fonseca Prize.

There are a lot of people who motivate me. As a case in point, my family, friends, and the people around me. My family and friends support and aid me with my needs. They help clear the jagged stones and spikes in the path of my life. Just thinking of this pushes me forward and hope someday I will do the same for them. The people around me help me open up my eyes to the vision of what I can change. Seeing the lack of necessity and inequality made me want to continue and in hope that someday, very soon, I'll possess the ability to help them.

The people mentioned aren’t my only motivation. Motivations can also be an idea. The vision of my dreams, for instance. A vision that can enlighten and lend a hand for others. I think of what I can do and I'll do it. Mistakes, failures, and criticism also help. Everything's not lost when you fail. Just because you can't see the stars in the sky doesn’t mean it’s not there. It’s just covered by thick clouds. These clouds are your doubts and negative thoughts. Clear them up, look up and see what’s shining ahead of you. Failures are our best teachers. Failures are excruciating and we don’t want it to happen. Though, it is still inevitable. If I fail, I'll stand up again and make sure I'll take a different and better course. Failure and mistakes widen up my mind and will give me a knowledge of what to do and what to avoid. It helps me build more steps in my journey. Rising from failure is like a phoenix rising from the ashes after a scorching blaze.

People may hand me heavy criticisms but I know better. I’ll put them down at the side of the road and continue. Its weight will not slow me down and will not stop me. One day they’ll see what I've become and the difference I made. As Albert Einstein said, “I am thankful for all of those who said NO to me. It’s because of them I'm doing it myself.”

Lastly, faith and hope. Some individuals may not have hope. This is because they’re looking at the wrong viewpoint. Looking at something negative makes you think and do something negative. Same case for positive. Open up your eyes and mind for a good perspective and the rest is up to you.
I don't always rely on others. The person who can help me is myself. This is my life, hence why it’s up to me to make decisions. I'm the painter of the canvas of my life. The paints I use are the ones that motivate me. From the darkest tones - failure and criticism - to the lighter ones - my family, friends, and the people around me - to the lightest tones - faith and hope. I paint with the vision of my dreams intact in my mind to the canvas in front of me.