Confidence is a really funny thing. One day, you can have an overflowing amount and the next you have none. Confidence seems to be a rare commodity these days. I don’t think it’s a far stretch to say that just about everyone has at least one thing they hate about themselves.
I read a staggering statistic in USA TODAY that half of all college students have had suicidal thoughts. There are a lot of factors to go into this, but again, I don’t think it’s a far stretch to assume that most, if not all, suffer from low self-esteem or low self-confidence.
But here’s the reality of being who you are: you are who you are for a lot of different reasons. You were put on this earth to be exactly who you are because people out there need someone just like you. Although you may not be exactly what you want to be, you are what you are supposed to be —and there has to be some comfort in knowing that.
The universe doesn’t make mistakes. You’re not a mistake, nor are you useless or any other negative thought about yourself.
It is easy to get caught up in the bad. It’s a slippery slope. We watch the news and we see story after story of destruction, but very rarely do we see a story with a happy ending. But just because we don’t see it every day, we know there is good in the world; this is the same way with ourselves. Although we may not be able to always recognize our positive traits, that doesn’t mean they’re not there.
It’s okay to have bad days because, although you’re great, you are only human. Just try to find the good in the bad. Whether that’s as simple as having a good hair day or something bigger, like treating yourself to something you’ve been wanting for a while. As long as it’s not illegal or immoral, there’s no wrong way to cheer yourself up.
In case you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or having a rough time, here are some hotline numbers that could help you or someone you know.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 (Hours: 24/7)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (Hours: 24/7)
National Eating Disorders Association: 1-800-931-2237 (Hours: Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. EST)
ANAD: National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders: 630-577-1330 (Hours: Monday-Friday,12 p.m.-8 p.m. EST)
The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386 (Hours: 24/7)
"Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise" -Victor Hugo
