Believe In Yourself

I've spent the last week contemplating over and over what does it mean to believe in yourself, and why is it so important?!

I think back to my childhood and teenage years and while I am sure there were times of failure, I don't remember a single time my parents told me I wasn't good enough, or pretty enough or smart enough. In fact, I remember having no idea what I wanted to do after high school and my parents saying you can do anything and believing it! I contemplated medical school at the time, and there was never a doubt in their words that I couldn't do anything I put my mind too. When I moved away, they let me go. To this day my mom is one of my biggest supporters, and I can still hear my dads voice with advice and reason in my head.

Today's society plays on emotion above and beyond what I think is healthy or appropriate. Girls need to be size zero, with perfect hair but less sex appeal. Boys need to be the best athlete in school, and if you are too "nerdy" you aren't cool. Moms need to work less but do more, dads need to provide better, but be home by dinner every night. If you have too many kids you are unstable, if you don't have kids there must be a reason ... the list could go on and on. Insert an area of your life that feels chaotic at times and I am sure someone out there judges you for it or believes you are wrong.

SO WHAT!?!? Yes, you read that correctly, and I capitalize it because I truly believe the words! SO WHAT!?!? Why do you listen to other people saying you can't, you'll fail, you won't make it. Why are you searching for validation from a world that doesn't believe in you? A lack of belief in yourself will only limit you and cause distress. Welcome to 2016 where it is 100% ok to have confidence!! I encourage you to take a look at your life and embrace the things you love about YOU!

If you read about success, whether it is health, business, friendship, life --- the biggest difference between successful people and unsuccessful ones is that the successful individuals are determined to make the situation work for them no matter what!! They believe in themselves and the process, even though they may fail along the way. Bottom line, successful people know when to change paths, but never quit.

I Believe In Myself? Do You?

We all deal with vulnerability and failure, its human nature. Having confidence can be a beautiful thing when combined with humility and kindness. I know that my life is not perfect and I have no desire to pretend it is. But I believe in me, and because of that I know I will always be able to move forward and figure out the next step. I surround myself with like minded people because they encourage me along the way and support me. I also surround myself with loving people who don't think like me at all -- because they provide me insight I would have never thought about. They allow me to visualize a bigger picture in this crazy world we live in. Key point here though, is the people I surround myself with are encouraging and kind through the process of support. I do not expect them always to agree with me, in fact I am grateful at times they don't, but because they are caring and express concern in appropriate ways, I know they still believe in my ideas and values! A genuine support system is key to your confidence and success.

I'm often asked, how have you moved 8 times in 8 years, or don't you get upset over this or that, how do you eat chicken that much, are you angry at God that your dad died or your son has health issues, why do you work part time, why don't you volunteer more ... pick the topic and people ask questions, oh how they ask questions! I have learned to love questions! For it is the answers that make me real, that keep me grounded. I have cried countless tears over my life, I have stuffed my face with pizza and wine, and spent hours training for a marathon or lifting weights to satisfy my fitness desires. I prayed for years that my dad would live till he was old but knew his heart issues could take him any day. I have grieved a typical life for my child, and I have battled my husband, lost friends and downright not wanted to get out of bed some days. The real question is WHO HASN'T? I love being real. I love being me. No one guaranteed us a fairy tale life. We can't always control our circumstances, but we can control our reactions to them. In the same regard I have graduated college, met amazing people along the way, I have traveled the country and built memories with individuals I wouldn't have met if I hadn't moved. I have laughed so hard I couldn't breathe and I have experienced so much joy. I have the best friends a girl could ask for, and live in an amazing city! I have a successful career, a job I love and my health. I have a beautiful son who has defied the odds that medical standards placed on him, and I have a loving home. I love being on the lake, drinking wine, running outside and simple joys like kicking a soccer ball with Lincoln. I wake up each day and choose to live!

I believe my life has meaning. Somedays I don't know what that meaning is, lol, and other days I can tell you exactly why I do what I do. I have learned that I prefer to see the bright side, and bring encouragement to others. I want to touch just one person who is going thru a rough time and say, its ok, you will make it to the top again, I promise! Just believe in yourself. If I can instill in them even an ounce of confidence and rekindle a fire in their soul, I have succeeded!

"Be humble in your confidence, yet courageous in your character."

I want to leave you with a thought by Gabourey Sidibe (actress). "People always ask me, 'you have so much confidence. Where did that come from?' It came from me. One day I decided I was beautiful, and so I carried out my life as if I was a beautiful girl. It doesn't have anything to do with how the world perceives you. What matters is what you see."