Confidence Issues

Well, I offered my services in advice to people struggling with confidence issues, since I’ve had so many of them myself, and gotten past so many of them.  Confidence is a tricky subject to approach because achieving it is different for each person.  My story is that I was made fun of constantly in grade- and middle school, and I had no self-esteem, no confidence in anything I could do, because, excpet for singing, the other kids made fun of me about everything.  The only reason they never made fun of my voice is because no one knew I had one.  I never sang in public.  I think if I had, and had gotten made fun of for it, that would have pushed me over the edge.

The summer before high school, I got into the Beatles.  And everything in my life changed.  I realized that the other kids would make fun of me, probably worse than they had in the past, because I was into a band from the sixties, when everyone else thought that that was so “old” and they were into all the newest music, and all that.  That was when I started not to care.  I realized I was into something good, and no one else’s opinion was going to get me out of it.  I knew I didn;t fit in, and I knew they’d make fun of me.  So, in almost a sense of careless defiance, I made a decision.  The very simple decision of, “They’re gonna make fun of me anyway, so let’s give them something to make fun of!”

My freshman year, things were much the saem, except I was listening to Beatles music practically 24/7.  My sophomore year, I realized that a minority of people were actually respecting me, though the majority still made fun of me.  Plus, my sophomore year was my first time singing in public, at a school concert,a nd at a coffeehouse the school had.

I made friends with some really great people that year, two of which I’m still best friends with to this day.  Ryan and Jason.  They gave boosts to my confidence like you wouldn’t believe.

I think that everyone has their own key to confidence, as it were.  But I agree with what “Advice Given” said about liking yourself.  I hated myself in middel school.  All I wanted to do was fit in, and I never could.  But in high school, when I was proud to be who I was, and happy standing out, that’s when people started taking a notice to me, including me, wanting me around.

As far as confidence where guys are concerned, I used to get really tongue tied around guys I liked, too.  But you’ve got to rememebr, they’re just people.  Yeah, they may be people we’d like to kiss, or hug, or have say that they love us, but daydreaming about that won’t turn it into reality.  If you daydream too much about a guy, soon enough, you’ve built him so far up in your head that he sometimes seems like a God, and that just makes you more nervous about the thought of speaking with him.

We’re all human!!  We all burp, fart, and tell bad jokes.  We all make mistakes, we all screw up, we all rip our pants, catch our coat in the door, lock our keys in the car, and we all laugh about these stupid things.  The best ice breaker is a good laugh.

Okay, that’s all I can really say about this right now.  I hope that I’ve helped anyone who is purposely reading this, or who just happens to stumble across it, or if it helps any of the regular readers of this diary.  Leave me a note if you want me to write on any more advice giving topics.  I’ve been through a lot, and will give your questions honest thought and reply the best that I am able to.

–Notes–

I can definitely relate. I despised middle school. I had some people I trusted..but I got screwed over. But hey..obstacles like that hurt, but in the end they only make you stronger. In High school..I was my own person and proud to be that. Good entry! [SolarEclipse]
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That was well-said. Everyone should do what they want and what makes them happy and not let other people bring their confidence down. Most of the time when someone makes fun of someone else, it’s because they’re jealous of the one they’re mocking. Those people aren’t worth your time. If you do what you enjoy, you’ll rise above and the stupid people will just be more losers in the lower flock. 🙂 [*~Advice~*]
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Great entry…I think you worded that very well. Sorry if it sounded like I was coming down on you earlier. That was definately not my intent. Oh, and I’m glad things are working out with Jason!! [~-Advice_Given-~]

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