By nature, many of us are constantly saying and thinking "I'm sorry" for things we say and do throughout our daily lives. Many of us are living behind a wall of insecurities and apologetic living as an identity that doesn't represent us for who we really are because we're insecure with ourselves. "Unapologetic living" is powerful and freeing and so many of us are imprisoned to our insecurities and the words "I'm sorry."

Personally, I used to find myself constantly unsure and insecure of the things I'm doing and saying, chronically worrisome about what others were thinking of who I was. This created many problems within my own mind and within my relationships with friends and new people all the time. Recently, I was approached by someone who is supposed to be an "authority" figure in my life and I was told it wasn't their problem we had a problem, it was mine.

This "problem" they were talking about has bothered me relentlessly for almost a year and I had let it because I was so extremely worried about what this person thought of me, what I did and said, and how they perceived me compared to my other friends. I constantly was sorry, whether externally or internally, for how I acted and what I said because of my insecurity in who I was.

This person even approached my friends and told them "It's not my fault she's insecure" and they would be right, it isn't their fault I'm insecure in myself. But, my insecurities can't take all the blame for how I was treated by this person. And I think that is the most important thing I learned from this confrontation and year of struggling.

I don't have to be sorry and insecure for being who I am.

And even more so, I can't change how someone treats me but just because someone doesn't treat me the same as someone else doesn't mean my worth decreases or that I am inferior to that other person. I struggle with insecurity, a lot. But, hearing this person talk about my insecurities with myself in a way in which they acted like they understood really irked me and made me realize my insecurities are not and never again will be someone's power against me.

From that conversation on, I made it a point to not let my insecurities and apologies for being who I am be a major influencer in my life and my relationships with people. I found that living in constant fear and a space of inferiority of other people and their perceptions of me created an insane amount of stress on myself that was so unnecessary.

I challenge everyone, if any of this sounds familiar in any way, to free yourself from these insecurities and apologetic living and identity we live behind. Start living unapologetically and love every bit of yourself, become who you've always wanted to be and don't apologize once for it.