Confidence is a wonderful thing. It can be more freeing and give us more security than we ever thought possible. It induces feelings of happiness and strength. But confidence can also be a huge burden, especially to those who are still trying to find their own.

"Fake it 'til you make it" is a common phrase that most teenagers will hear in their lives. The theory is that, if you fake certain emotions or actions for long enough, eventually they will become truth. Now, sometimes this can be beneficial, especially in places of work (where maybe you don't quite know what you're doing, but you'll learn on the job).

But in cases of confidence, "fake it 'til you make it" places a ridiculous amount of pressure on people to reach perfection. Those at a young age are even more susceptible to this pressure. When you're constantly trying to fake your own confidence and self-love, you don't leave room to actually learn how to do it.

Imagine you are a 16-year-old girl. In high school, everyone around you seems so happy and confident. They seem like they have their lives figured out. So, then, it must be true. Right? So you feel like you have to keep your true feelings a secret. You can't tell anyone that you don't have your life figured out, or maybe that you aren't exactly happy at that moment.

The problem with this theory is that you have no idea what's going on in other peoples' minds. You can't possibly know if they are faking it or not. But you still feel that pressure to be perfect and confident and happy, just like them.

What if we all just admitted how insecure we were? What if we decided that, instead of a fake sense of security, we allowed ourselves to feel and move on? What if we created a mutual sense of understanding and love instead of perpetuating a stigma around mental health and self-love issues?

The stigma around insecurity is truly appalling. Teenage girls are constantly being told that they can't be too confident (God forbid a girl feels good about her body), but they also can't be insecure, because that's unattractive too. It's a constant balancing act. Do you see the conundrum here?

Here's the thing: your insecurity does not define you until you let it. If you give the world the power to determine your worth, you also give it power over your personal growth. There is no way for you to learn and grow if you are constantly trying to uphold some sort of façade.

So, here's my challenge to you. Instead of faking it, own your flaws. Own your insecurity. Admit it to yourself so that you can STOP faking it. Trust me – it's a huge weight to be lifted off your shoulders. Then, start working towards real self-love and positivity. Remind yourself every day that it's okay to be flawed because everyone is. It's okay to be afraid and frustrated sometimes.

Once you admit to the world what your insecurities are, they no longer hold any power over you.