We Should Learn To Be Confident
Start writing a post
Politics

We Should Learn To Be Confident

Why does society push us to believe being confident is being prideful?

640
We Should Learn To Be Confident
Photo by Nadine Wuchenauer from Pexels

I have not yet learned to love myself. If you think that this article is going to be about how I learned to love myself and how you should too, you're in the wrong place. There's already thousands of articles like that out there. Which is great! There should be! We should all love ourselves! We all should aim for that standard of feeling great in our own bodies and loving our own personalities. I wish everyone felt that way, but I know for a fact not everyone does. If you can relate to what I'm saying, this article is for you. If you can't and you do find comfort in who you are, keep reading! You have someone in your life who you need to come to understand.

When I was young, I was taught that being confident can come off as prideful. This wasn't one person whispering in my ear for me to stop being confident-- in fact, most of the time it had nothing to do with words. No one ever said "Emma, you should learn to be careful with how high your self esteem is, you don't want people thinking you're cocky." It was remarks aimed at women who talked proudly about their achievements, women who wore bathing suits that were a tad bit small and had a look of pride on their face that was matched with disgusted looks from women in the crowd. It was women who were laughed at for being proud of their bodies, reality shows featuring the snobby full-of-herself girl that was too wrapped up in her appearance to focus on anything else. It was shameful to be proud of the way you looked.

It was beautiful if you didn't realize how beautiful you were. Songs like One Direction's "You Don't Know You're Beautiful" praised young girls who didn't appear to know they were pretty, and needed a man to come along and say it so they could believe it. Girls who had low-self esteem are valued in our society. If a man tells a girl he's into that she's pretty, if she agrees she's often rejected for being too prideful. She's supposed to do the "respectful" thing and deny, so he can praise her and "save" her.

Growing up with this in the back of my mind, I never thought to look in the mirror and like what I saw. My entire family has broad shoulders and a stockier build, so I never looked like the people on TV. It didn't help that everyone around me had low self-esteem, as well. Seeing people that looked like me reject themselves made me in turn reject myself. It's hard for me to look in the mirror, and I don't have many pictures of myself because it makes me sick.

I'm not blaming the people that I learned from. It wasn't their intent to brainwash me into low-self esteem. They tried to remind me to be confident, but how could I do that when all around me was negativity? The only positivity I saw was from afar, and even that was limited. People aren't praised on TV for their confidence, they're praised for losing weight and getting plastic surgery.

So what is this article, other than an explanation for my self-loathing? It's a call to action to get the media and society to stop the negative influence. It's an article to help someone who has high-self esteem to see their friends, family members, and peers in a different light, to get a glimpse into their mind. With empathy and the dedication to change, we have the power to stop this cycle. We should encourage young girls (and everyone else for that matter) to love themselves and to be positive. That not everyone looks the same, and your body is beautiful no matter what it looks like.

What would a world look like where we all loved ourselves? How would we treat others, treat ourselves? Would the world be a better place? There's no doubt in my mind that it would be. I believe that the world would be a beautiful, unique space full of confident people and radiating with positivity. People would generally just be happier. What's the harm in that? This is a call for everyone to change, not only you but the people around you, the media, society in its whole. We have the power to make a positive world.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

41379
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

25933
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

951273
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

134646
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments