Tuesday, February 2, 2016

A Letter to Your Insecure Self

Dear You,

Right now, you're feeling like you aren't good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, or just plain enough.  Right now, you're stuck in your head comparing your body, your intelligence, or your circumstances to some other person.  Right now, you feel ashamed about that extra cookie you ate at dinner or for choosing regular over diet coke.  Right now, you're feeling insecure.  And right now is the time to stop.

It's taken me a long time to realize that I'm not special or better than someone else for being able to resist potato chips at a party or choose water over soda and I'm still working on believing it.  I know that underneath my body is still me.  No matter how thin you get, you are still who you are.  No matter how tan you are, no matter how much makeup you wear, no matter how many languages you can speak - your name is still the same and my worth is still based on your intrinsic self.  Society doesn't quite see it this way.  We can talk big.  We can say we value things underneath the surface, but the fact of the matter is your Facebook news feed is still full of girls showing off how many pounds they've recently lost (guilty!) and guys snapping a picture of themselves lifting at the gym (also guilty!).

You are capable of so much more.

"You are worth so much more than your waistline.  You are worth the beautiful thoughts you think and the daring dreams you dream."  What do you care about beyond your body?  Where does your heart lie?  There is so much more to you than your body.  You are caring, kind, and compassionate.  You are loving and giving.  You are loved by so many people, not for what you are, but for who you are.  Your soul is beautiful and the world could see more of it if we laid down these insecurities and lived our lives openly, with vulnerability.

When is the last time you felt pride?  When did you allow yourself to share that with the world?  Why can't you say to the world around you "today, I feel good!'?  It's okay to feel insecure, but it's not okay to sacrifice your life over your insecurities.  Lean into the insecurity and allow yourself to meet yourself again.  Your true, authentic self.

Even though you have nothing to be insecure about, this process will be difficult.  But you are brave.  Show the world who you are beyond your body.  Embrace what you want in life.  Live the life you've always imagined.

Love,
A Confident You