I Am Good Enough

Hey everyone! I know that I've discussed my self-esteem issues in past blogs, but in this one I want to talk about where it came from.  This week's webinar focused on making peace with the past and it got me thinking about the positive and negative things that I have encountered in my life, especially the negative comments that people have said to me.

Words do hurt and it can still affect a person well into adulthood.Two instances have really stuck out to me. I remember when I was about 7 years old and I went to visit a family member.  She was let's say "under the weather" at the time and she told me I was dumb and stupid because I wanted to watch television instead of read a book. Another incident happened when I was in high school. I was told that I would never make it to college because my grades weren't good enough. I still remember these moments clear as day. 

For years, I believed in those comments. I felt like I wasn't going to amount to anything. It has taken me such a long time to realize that I am good enough.  I wish my relative was still alive so that I could show her that I did do something with my life. I did go to college, and while I did not start out by going to my dream college, I succeeded in community college and made some wonderful friends that I still have today.  I am so grateful for them because they believe in me and support me. 

I eventually went to my dream college, but it was in community college when I realized that I wanted to go into the counseling field. I had advisors who believed in me and encouraged me, and I want to provide the support to someone else that I wasn't given when I was growing up.  All it takes is one person to change another person's mindset.  I believe that kids need all the support they can get and it should start at home.  Parents should be the first ones to encourage their kids to follow their dreams.