Thursday, April 28, 2011

Cultivating Confidence-Claire's story




Growing up as the baby of 5, you can say that I quickly learned how to make myself heard. As the years went on, I realized the reason why I was yearning for attention. I was seeking someone else to show me how special I was, tell me how much I was loved, and remind me that the Lord had a special plan for me all because I couldn’t tell myself those things and believe them. It confused me for a long time why I felt that way as a child. I had the most loving family I could have ever asked for and there was never a lack of love around. But for whatever reason that was how felt, and it was something I really struggled with right up until I graduated from college. Since then the Lord has really been teaching me to go to Him for encouragement, let Him show me how much I am loved, and most of all seek Him for wisdom and direction in my life. In today’s world, I have found that it truly is a battle not to get tangled up in what others think of me. It’s definitely not easy, and I often find myself being tempted to seek someone else’s approval instead of trusting in Him and what God has told me. Even though it is still a struggle sometimes, I am proud of how far I’ve come and am truly grateful for all the hardships and lessons I have learned thus far. I have so much to be grateful for, and when I stop and remind myself of that, it is hard to imagine how anyone could take that joy away.

My advice to young girls today would be not to waste all their energy seeking approval & validation from those around them in order to determine their self-worth. Learn to trust yourself and listen to your feelings. Surround yourself with loyal and encouraging friends. Never forget how special you are, and always remember that you are loved more than you could ever imagine.

No comments:

Post a Comment