Self Reflection

I have been reading alot about Self Discovery lately, learning about myself.
My entire life I have always 'followed' others, I have always been a pleaser - Doing everything to suit and make everyone else happy.
But where do I draw the line and start thinking for myself?
Over time I have realised, I have no idea who I really am.
Most people in life never discover their true selves.
To be completely at peace and settled in life, you need to learn exactly who you are and what you want.
My life has been one huge rollercoaster ride - but at some point you need to stop riding, get off and try something different - Now is my time.
I have reflected on so many aspects of my life lately - My childhood, teen years, family, friends, boyfriends and choices i have made.
Every step of the way there has been learning curves, sometimes some very hard lessons learnt, but these are the things that have allowed me such a turning point in my life.
I never had much of a childhood, I had to grow up very fast, my teen years were plagued by insecurities, anxieties and never really fitting in, family was the only 'constant' in my life until that was blown apart, never really having friends - just fitting in, boyfriends that have been terrible - drunks/drugs/violent and needless to say the many, many choices i have made over the years.
I haven't quite put the past behind me, but I am learning more about the 'future me' and who I want to be/who i am becoming. Even my lifestyle is changing - for the better.
I am more picky with regard to many things - the major one is Men.
My previous history is 'Bad Boys'...but i took that to the extremes. The 2 serious boyfriends i had - one was (and still is!) a vile, violent drunk and the other is another violent, drug addict (or possibly a former drug addict), who is currently in prison on a very long stretch. A few other 'casual' relationships never worked out.
I attracted these kind of men into my life because of the low opinion of myself - at the time i felt i didn't deserve anything better, but now i know different - that i do deserve much better. I certainly don't feel like a target for every desperate creep any more.
It's taken me and will take me a long time, but i am finally learning about the real me. All my life i have been selfless, now it's time to be a little selfish in order to be happy.