Saturday 12 September 2015

Confidence - Believe in Yourself!!!




Believe in yourself!!! – Haven’t you heard that sentence a lot?!

To believe in yourself you need a lot of confidence and power. You need to know about your strengths and weaknesses and you need to use your strengths and work on your weaknesses to get to where you want to be. Of course nobody is saying you have to change, because it’s still important to stay true to yourself. Everyone just has to figure out a way to make the best of everything.

Self-confidence has always been an important topic throughout my life. As a child I was really shy. I wouldn’t talk o everyone and always hid behind my parents. A lot of people complained about that to my parents or they overheard people talking about me. Of course I opened up more and more, but when meeting someone new I always needed time and when I got to know him or her a bit, I let him or her in.
On top of that I also struggled with being honest at school. When people were talking behind my back, I asked them about it and one time all that ended up in all the girls of my class bullying me. That has been really hard on me and didn’t help my shyness.
I think most of you have seen a picture or more of me, so you know that I’m skinny. That’s the way I’ve always been, I can eat whatever I want and I don’t gain weight. It runs in the family and I never had problems with it. It was the people around me, the people who didn’t really know me who turned me down. Things like “Look at her, she’s so skinny, I bet she never eats”, were daily comments. That was hard to deal with and didn’t build up my confidence at all. I had my mum talking to me a lot and I learned not to listen. Finally in high school, people were actually able to see how much I really eat and that whole situation changed. I still have people telling me “You have to eat”, but I’ve learned how to take it.

The older I got the more confident and open I became. I still struggled in certain situations at high school. On stage in a musical you could see that I was insecure and one thing that was really difficult to deal with was the result of my thesis at high school. I compared two musical composers and the teacher overlooking it didn’t like it at all. At one point she said something including “Don’t take it personally” and that blew me away. I hate that sentence now, even though I know how to take critique.
After high school I took a year off, did an internship at a school and then I lived in Vancouver, Canada, for 5 months, to do my English diploma. That experience changed me a lot, I became more independent and started to believe in myself. Afterwards I started uni and started all kind of other things – choir, theatre group and these are all things that were an important step in becoming more confident. At uni I started with teaching kindergarden and after three semesters I reached my low point, where I wasn’t sure whether I was doing the right thing. I talked to a lot of people and they all helped me and it taught me to fight for what I really want. I changed to teaching 1st to 6th grade and it was the right decision. I loved my internship in 6th grade and it showed me that that’s the age group I wanna teach and hear I am, teaching 5th and 6th grade primary at an international school – still very happy!!!

The process of finding the right job for me was hard and long and accompanied by a lot of tears. It was hard at the time, because everyone seemed to like my application and most job interviews went really well, but it was never enough. I had to be strong and fight and the never giving up paid off in the end, because I found the perfect spot for me. It’s probably the one that has been waiting for me: perfect age range, the international touch, the location, the team – perfect.

Disappointments are part of our journey, you just have to learn how to take them. At the end they are a chance to learn and improve things. It’s important that you never give up! Fight for your dream and don’t be shy to go after it!!! Another significant point is to stay true to yourself. Every person is unique and that’s what makes you special, you still have to feel comfortable and follow your instincts. You will never please everyone and you don’t have to! You’re good at what you’re doing, so show it!

There are easy ways to boost your confidence, start with a smile for example. Learn something new, get inspired or do something good every day. Staying healthy and exercise can also help your self-esteem. Worry less, follow your passion and don’t be afraid!!!

It’s a learning process and you go step by step. Get up again after a disappointment and fight! And last but not least, stay positive and be happy!!!

This is probably the most personal post I’ve ever posted and I’d like to know what you guys think, so let me know in the comments bellow!

16 comments:

  1. As someone who is still stuck in the whole what the heck do I want to do with my life stage at the ripe old age of 31 I can definitely see how it was a huge struggle to identify what you wanted!
    You should be proud that you fought hard against things that you thought would hold you back and found your place and your job for you :) I can imagine you being a great year 6 teacher, I bet the kids love you! Plus one thing you can really give to the kids is the support of someone who has been through the tougher times when maybe they felt a bit isolated and like they didn't fit in, I think that breeds empathy in people.
    Well done on sharing something important to you and thanks for pushing me to be more me and more confident about it :)
    x

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  2. Admirable post. It was fascinating to read about your progress and I felt for you, being shy and skinny, reading how others treated you. I am so glad you learned a way to stand up and be confident. Having met you in real life, I can tell everyone else what a lovely person you truly are. You're right that we're all unique and we'll never please everyone. Keep shining your own special light and you'll attract like minded people towards you. Much love xx

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  3. What a great post and something which many of us experienced or still experienced. I have been bullied or picked on all my life even up to leaving work after comments like give us a race, or you didn't need them operations you can walk really and just being fake. I still get upset by these comments and it has affected me a lot. Sorry to moan on here but it is good to open up. Mind you tears as I type. Xx

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    1. Thank you lovely! Don't apologize, it's important to open up and let it out! Sending hugs xx

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  4. Such a beautiful post. I'm sorry about the bullying, I really don't understand why people do that. I'm happy you've found the perfect job and continued to fight for your happiness. I think you look great, you have fabulous taste and talent in spades :). xxx

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    1. Hi sweetie!
      Thank you so much, that means a lot!
      I will never understand people like that, I've just learned not to listen!
      Sending lots of love xxx

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  5. I love this post hun xxx I loved the honesty & I think it's wonderful you shared your experiences. You are an amazing girl, teacher, friend. I love being around you (either in person or through the internet). You're spirit is contagious. You're a beautiful person, inside and out and I'm SO HAPPY to call you my friend. LOVE YOU xxxx

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    1. Awwwww, thanks hun! Love you and thanks for always being there for me! xxxx

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  6. Hi Simona,

    Beautiful post and I totally found myself nodding the whole way through. (Skinny person over here having heard the world's worst comments ever - if only some people could learn how not to hurt others and love them for what they are - and they can look at my photos since I was a tot, I have always been so small!)

    You showed that you persevered and didn't give up, no matter how hard it has been. And your reward? You got exactly what you were looking for and you never stopped doing that! I am so happy for you and your job and hobbies. Being a teacher, blogger and actress - amazing and who knows what else you will do in your life! WELL DONE!

    Hugs,
    Vicky x

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    1. Hi Vicky!
      Thank you so much! That means a lot. Hope you are well xx

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  7. Hi Simona,

    Great write up, so relatable that I picked up a few Tips to help myself. Smiling more, exercising and learning something new is what I gotta try. You are brave to pour so much heart in this post, kudos to you.
    Bee

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  8. Hello lovely,

    Good on you for writing a post that's so personal. I can really relate to your post and I think most writers will, as we often take a confidence knock when theres a low review, so that saying "don't take it personally" I really related to. Also the skinny part! Haha I'm 36 and still get that thrown at X your a lovely person and have always be so kind hearted to me X welldone and I wish you emense happiness and sucess

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  9. Hi lovely!
    Awww, thank you so much, that means a lot xxx

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