A Guide To Better Self-Esteem

Whew, what a quote that is. Confidence is something that I have found many people struggle with, including myself. Just as the quote says, the only way to truly gain self-confidence is by putting yourself in uncomfortable positions. When we stay in our comfort zones, we are forcing ourselves to live mediocre. The best way to see growth is to push ourselves out of those safe zones and into what terrifies us.

For me, growing up shy and quiet was always something I hated but couldn't ever really "unlearn". The thought of walking into a room full of people like having to find a friend to sit with at lunchtime terrified me. I would rather take my sac lunch and eat in the bathroom stall alone before having to walk around the lunchroom big-eyed by myself. Now looking back, I laugh that I was that way. If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing, i would tell her that the older you get, the more you realize that everyone is so focused on themselves that they aren't taking the time to worry about anybody else.

Now, I know self-confidence isn't something that can be sprinkled with magic fairy dust and automatically disappear. It is a slow process that takes a lot of time and self-discipline. Many people have an impression that when they get their dream body they will reach peak confidence, or when they finally land a new job offer they automatically will become this high headed, confident woman. And that is where they have it completely wrong. Confidence isn't just about looking your best or your greatest achievements. While those things can help with our self-esteem, confidence itself is a thought process that can be extremely difficult to understand. Our thoughts and emotions are what leads us to feeling and recognizing the high that we feel when we look our best or accomplish a goal. In those situations, we are letting ourselves feel confident because we feel we finally deserve to be. But what if instead of waiting for a big accomplishment or when we lose that extra 20 pounds, we celebrate the small things and feel confident in our skin all the time? Could you imagine the difference you will see in your life? I'm not here saying I want you to walk in a room with your shoulders back and your head perked up with a cat walk, but what I am saying is that what if the next time we are feeling down on ourselves because we aren't a size 2 anymore, or when we get anxious about the huge new job project coming up, we start lifting ourself up and being our own biggest hype man.

I challenge you to let this post sit with you for a little while. I want you to think about all the times you thought you weren't good enough or when your shyness got the best of you and I want you to think about why you were feeling that way. Maybe if you would have been there for yourself just a little more you wouldn't have so many situations that just popped up in your head. This week, I urge you to step out of what makes you comfortable and jump into something terrifying. Confidence is on the other side waiting for you. Remember - You are beautiful. You are worthy. You are enough.

Go Glow!

Lexi