In this day and age a lot of focus is placed on ourselves. We post little snippets of our lives on social media, convinced that our friends really truly want to see a picture of the food we're eating or what we look like in that new outfit. Selfie posting becomes a daily ritual.
All of this serves to make us appear more confident than we actually are. Everyone struggles with fears of how they fit in and everyone wants validation. It becomes especially apparent when we share a detail about our lives that isn't validated by the people we think will validate it. We announce a new job or a new house or a new relationship and when people fail to be appropriately excited for us, it hurts.
However, even when our friends and family are supportive it can still be difficult to be confident in our decisions or dreams.
We become our own worst enemy when we allow ourselves to listen to that inner voice that screams at us that we can't while drowning out the whispers from ourselves and others that say we can. It holds us back from accomplishing great things and pursuing our passion.
When I left the military many years ago, I was equipped with computer skills that allowed me to further myself in a career that was financially rewarding. By the time I was 25, I was clearing 6 figures...but I was absolutely miserable. When I finally ditched that career to pursue my passion, it was hard and still is. I don't make near as much as I did in computers and I probably never will. It has been hard to not return to computers when I log into my bank account and freak out over the balance. However, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I am so much happier and more fulfilled in my new career and there is no amount of money that replaces that.
I like to joke that money can't buy happiness but I'd rather cry in a mansion but it isn't true.
At the end of the day I am exhausted and underpaid but sometimes I feel like I make a genuine difference and that makes it all worth it...if I had listened to that voice that said "you can't do this" I would still be absolutely miserable.
So go confidently in the direction of your dreams...because nothing replaces the feeling of becoming who you were meant to be.
Be kind. Be supportive. Be fearless. Be confident.
