Confidence

I think we can all agree that people who are confident seem happy. Confidence is such a funny thing because sometimes the people who look confident are the most insecure and those who seem quiet and insecure are the ones who are the most self-sure. I think that this is because we have forgot what confident means. When we think of confident it’s safe to say people would think of someone they know who is prideful and self-centered. That is not what confidence is – that is being prideful and self-centered!! Confidence is simply knowing who you are.

Seriously...knowing who you are, knowing what your style is, knowing what food you do and do not like, knowing what your laugh sounds like, knowing your favorite type of music, knowing your personality, knowing what you enjoy doing on a Friday night, knowing what you look for in the opposite sex, knowing your opinion, knowing what makes you – you.

This might sound crazy. Okay most likely it sounds really weird. How can knowing something like your favorite breakfast cereal help you have confidence?

In the world we live in we have what people call trend setters and hipsters, these are the “cool” people. Everyone wants to be like them. People act like them, talk like them, and dress like them. But, it’s not this simple. It’s actually really quite confusing because as soon as too many people are like them, it’s no longer cool. If there are too many “cool” doing what the hipsters are doing it becomes lame. Now the hipsters are doing something new that is totally different and “cool.” Hurry and start listening to that music and do what they’re doing before everyone else is doing it and it becomes lame all of the sudden. Weird and confusing but it is true isn’t it? This is what the world sees as confident now. Really this type of people are extremely insecure because they don’t know who they are. They have to be something they aren’t because this standard of “cool” is constantly changing. This just becomes extremely difficult and confusing. We are trying so hard to become something we aren’t because someone else SEEMS confident. This is not confidence.

I am a pretty confident person. I am outgoing. I am secure with who I am. That is because I actually KNOW who I am. I am a crazy girl. I love floral patterns and big stud earrings, I love chocolate and cucumbers, I hate mustard and pickles, sometimes when I laugh I snort but usually my laugh just comes out sounding loud and strange, I love listening to 80’s music and sing along with my dad, I talk a lot (sometimes too much), I love to sit at home in sweats and eat a quart of ice cream by myself sitting in front of a TV playing a romantic comedy, I am terrible at volleyball, I am a sucker for a guy who can tell a great joke, I have a long bucket list full of places I want to go and things I want to do, I love to dance, I don’t have enough patience to sit down and read a novel but I sure do love non-fiction, I am a go to church, love God type of gal and I love it. I love who I am. Sure my interests might change. Sure I will discover I like things I didn’t know I did. That is just fine, I’ll just add em to the list!

I’m not going to stop watching my favorite movie just someone thinks it is dorky. I’m not going to start swearing just because someone thinks it’s silly I don’t.  We have a choice to be we want. I’m not going to let someone influence that choice. I’ve made that choice and I will stick to it. I’m not going to judge someone else who made different choice then me, cause they aren’t me!! But if you don’t know who you are and who you want to be then you won’t be able to make this choice. You’ll just choose what everyone else is.

If everyone had confidence no one would compare themselves to another person. People would know their differences and be okay with it. Everyone would know their strengths and weaknesses and there would no longer be this need to be something. People would focus on who they are instead of what they aren’t!! They wouldn’t strive to find confidence in being accepted. They would strive to be the best version of themselves they could be.

Knowing who you are is simple.  We are the ones who complicate it. You don’t have to be like everyone else! Go try new things and decide for yourself if you like it or not! Stop being wishy washy on life! Decide!!

Start your list today!!

                I am           (your name here).

                I love to                .

                Someday I want to           .

                In my free time I                .

                My hobbies and talents are                  .

                I am not good at                .

                I am never going to                 .

                I am always going to              .

                I am me because _________.

The list goes on and on! It is not hard!! You might be surprised how little you actually know about yourself. How are you supposed to be confident if you don't even know who you are!! If you don’t know an answer, go find it out.

Being yourself is more than not being afraid to be a little weird. Being yourself is not following what everyone else is doing. Not having to look perfect like the girls on the magazines. Just looking like you! However, being yourself not trying to be different than everyone else.  I don’t do things just to be different. You couldn’t pick me out from a crowd just by looking at me. I’m a pretty normal teenager. But no one else is exactly like me. I know who I am, and I be me. That’s what being yourself is, knowing who you are and being it!!

The more confident you are, the happier you will be. Making decisions will be so much easier because you will already know what you want. You’ll be happier with who you are and you will be able to live life not having to worry about being someone to please others. You will please yourself! Confidence comes with knowing yourself. You will be surprised how simple it is.