I have been a bit disheartened lately, and sitting here, I catch myself asking: Why are so many smart, gifted, beautiful young people still not good enough? What happened to our once confident self-assurance? Is it the pressure of social media and wanting to be validated all the time? Or did we lose something deeper along the way?
We are in a world where validation through likes, followers, and validation from others has become a measure of success. We are trapped in the vicious cycle of wanting validation from others, often losing sight of the fact that true value does not come from the count of clicks we get or the count of people clapping for us. True confidence and self-worth come from within.
Positive Self-Perception: A Powerful Choice
I've been giving this more thought recently, and I can't help but recall a university colleague. She wasn't the classic vision of beauty (She was a bit shorter and had a fuller figure—no offense, just describing physical traits) , but it was her confidence and positivity that made her so memorable. She was adored by all, not due to her appearance or accomplishments, but because she had faith in herself. Her value wasn't derived from the judgment of others; it was a result of her own self-worth.
It challenges me to wonder why more of us can't say the same. Why can't we look in the mirror and simply tell ourselves, "I am enough", "I am great", "I am Beautifull"? Confidence is not dependent on appearance or achievement—it's about self-love as we are.
The Influence of Toxic People
It's easy to get drained by toxic, negative people—those that thrive on drama and suck the life out of others for attention. I've been guilty of allowing these types of people to get to me, but I always ask myself: Why? Why do we let these people steal our energy? Years ago, they wouldn't have had any authority. We need to learn to focus on the good and not listen to those who try to bring us down.
Were we stronger then or were there better times?
It's one question that appears to loop in my mind: Have things really changed, or have we just allowed outside influences to steal our confidence? The reality is that we are stronger than we often give ourselves credit for. We need to remember that our worth is inside and not up for others' approval. We are sufficient as is.
A Reminder by Jonathan Livingston Seagull
** _"Do not believe what your eyes are telling you. All they can ever see is limitation. Look with your understanding. Discover what you already know, and you shall see the way to fly."**_
– Richard Bach, Jonathan Livingston Seagull Accepting Imperfection
On Beautiful South's song Perfect Ten, there is a line that appears to fit well with the theme of self-acceptance: **"You're a perfect ten, and I'll give you my heart again." **
The point is simple: We don't need to fulfill some outside vision of perfection. We are uniquely, wonderfully complete as we are, and that is perfect enough. Conclusion: Believe in Yourself
So, after all this probing, I've discovered: it's time to stop seeking the world's approval and start searching within. Confidence, self-esteem, and optimisms don't come from the number of our followers or from other individuals' perceptions. They come from within. You are already perfect, just the way you are.