I love Alice in Wonderland.  I realize that Lewis Carroll was on drugs when he wrote it, but it still has some really profound moments (mixed in with plenty of lovable "crazy", of course).  One such moment is something I've been giving a lot of thought to recently, and decided to tie it in with Alice in Wonderland just for fun.  When the caterpillar asks Alice who she is, she doesn't have an answer, because at this point in the story, she has lost her sense of identity.  What a shame!

So much of what we can and will and do accomplish in this life depends on having a firm grasp on our own individual identities. Typically, this journey of self-discovery doesn't start until the late teens, early 20's, or later, and it continues for the rest of our lives.  One thing I'm really proud of is that I have a very thorough understanding of who I am as a human being, and have have come to this realization earlier than most other people I know.  So who cares?

Once you (yes, YOU) know who you are as a person, an American, a son, daughter, wife, mother, father, husband, brother, sister, coworker, teacher, student, friend, and above all else, a child of God...once you really understand your own self-worth in every single role you play, it gets easier to make decisions that will change your life for the better.  Not convinced?  Let me explain.

It all comes down to having the courage and confidence in yourself to leave an unhealthy relationship (or avoid it altogether), walk away from a group of friends who are bringing you down, and start demanding better in your life.  Because you know who you are, you know what you have to offer the world, and you know you deserve better.  I'm not going to lie, sometimes sticking up for yourself in this way kind of sucks.  You may not have friends for a while, or you may find yourself lonely and missing the thrill of having a boyfriend or girlfriend.  I promise that the sting of loneliness you may feel for a short time is totally worth the sense of self-worth that will come and the accomplishment you will have in the end, when you find yourself in a meaningful, lasting relationship, and have friends who lift you up instead of knock you down.

If only more people believed in themselves and their potential for good; this isn't exclusive to a few really awesome people I have in mind.  Everyone has the potential to be awesome, if only they believed it of themselves.  Stop putting up with the garbage in your life you know you don't deserve, and demand better.  You deserve it.

Labels: confidence, courage, friends, high school, identity, loneliness, potential, relationship, self-worth