Dear Self Confidence,

I'm writing you this letter because when I looked in the mirror today, I realized how truly unhappy I have become since we've been together. I don't know how to say this without hurting you, but... You've changed so much, and I just don't love you anymore. It's taken me a while to fully realize it, but I'm so glad I see the truth now. You do not treat me the way I deserve. Your voice is mean and nasty, and all you do is lie to me. I deserve so much better than this, and now I'm leaving you so I can go find another confidence that will see me the way I really am.

I remember the days when we could do anything in this world as long as we had each other. We were truly invincible. I didn't have a care in the world because you always told me I'd be fine. I could climb and sit on the very top of the monkey bars without one ounce of fear, because you told me I was perfectly capable of doing it. I could swing so high the swing-set would lift off the ground, only because you assured me if I held on tight enough I wouldn't fall. I miss those days. Now, all I hear from you is one negative thing after another. I know I'm smart, but you don't seem to think so anymore, do you? Even after I've studied for hours and have reviewed the material meticulously, you still find a way to convince me it isn't enough; that there's no way I could possibly have the mental energy to fully absorb all of that information, or remember it. I remember the days when you told me how beautiful I was, but you've changed your mind on that too, haven't you? When I look in the mirror and you tell me I'm not as pretty as I used to be, and how I'll never be happy with myself since I don't look like those other girls. This is what hurts me most. I know I'm beautiful, but you seem to always convince me otherwise, at least for a little while.

I find myself wondering, "what horrible thing did I do to you to make you despise me so much?" Was it something I said or did that made you turn against me? Or did I simply get too old to believe what you were telling me, so you decided to be mean instead? I'm so sorry I stopped believing you. I don't know why or how it happened, but the idea of myself being able to conquer the world just faded away, at one point. I'm so sorry the real world is such a harsh place. And I'm so sorry you decided that you had to be this way towards me. Most importantly, I'm sorry to myself that I've let you mistreat me for so long. But apologies are only words, and words are meaningless without actions to back them up. So, I would be a liar if I said I haven't grown to hate you. I would also be a liar if I said I didn't want you to leave. Because I have grown to hate you, and I don't just want you to, I need you to leave.

Let me explain myself. I've grown to hate you because where you used to tell me how much you believed in me, you now whisper over and over how I'll never make it. Where you used to remind me I'm special and there's no one quite like me, you now shout out how I'll never be noticed by anyone because I'm just "average". These are things I have tried to drown out for both your sake and mine, but I just can't. I need you to leave so I can replace you with a confidence that sees me the way you used to. I need you to leave so I can make room in my heart, again, for joy instead of misery. It hurts me to do this. I wish things could go back to the way things were, but you've changed too much and I just don't trust you anymore. You've left me no option. It's time for me to begin to love myself again, and I can't do that with you still here. It's time for me to let you go and move on.

Sincerely,

The Girl You Once Loved.