A moto that I've always strived to live by is"The only one you should work to impress is yourself".
Why would I want to waste my time trying to be someone I am not? Yes, I could change the way I dress and the way I act, but to what avail? I would no longer be happy with myself, and I am the only one I have to live with for the rest of my life. I could change my beliefs to cater to those of others, but why would I change my mind to believe the things which I believe are wrong? The world is a messed up place, and the way I see it is, the less I can look like it, the better off I will be. I learned at an early age I couldn't live happily like that, it never seemed worth it to me to conform to what others wanted me to be.
Another thing that is important is to be content with yourself.
It is a work in progress for me. I'm not always the easiest on myself. Why are we always so hard on ourselves, do we not realize how hard life is and the fact that we are where we are today is actually quite impressive? I have always struggled with anxiety and I have let it win countless times. These losses add up and leave a bad taste in your mouth like any loss in life does. Once I am able to step back and see that I am also strong, and I see the faith it took for me to continue after these struggles, it brings a smile to my face. I have learned to be content with myself and with my flaws. I'm content with the way I look, I consider myself average and feel no need to be among those society drools over, in-fact I wouldn't wish for that. I am fine with being shy, and struggling with speech at times (a-lot of it is due to a bad summer of anxiety). I'm fine with people knowing I'm not perfect or people not caring to get to know me, or even wanting anything to do with me. I am fine with the women that have rejected me, cause I know that their boyfriends will be boring.
The last important thing is learning to not be bothered by the small things.
Lets be honest most of the problems in our lives our small and not as bad as we draw them up to be. Anxiety has tought me just how small these things really are. To me even the worst times, are not that bad as long as I am thinking clearly that week and my anxiety isn't acting up. The moment I accepted my design work the easier it became. The moment in high school that I accepted that girls come and go, and the fact that the one who is better for me will come when I least expect it has made me no longer care. When something along those lines happens It doesn't effect me as much any longer. I know that that stuff always comes around. Lastly I am leaning to be content with my music career, with constant road blocks, and being in and out almost every day, I realized that I couldn't stress over it. It will happen when God wants it too, and at least I still have the passion and ability to create, even if it has no audience.