We asked folks a question that led to many surprising answers – some sad, some thought-provoking and some funny. We’ve highlighted a cross section of those responses below.
Stacey Lundquist
I was a ‘chubby’ kid. My grandmother’s answer to every wrong in this world was ‘let me make you something to eat’ and I lived by that mantra. I could not eat like other kids and be thin, so I was bullied endlessly. So much so that my so-called best friends in middle school gave me the nickname O. B. Whippo. Read more>>
Mae Rachelle
When I was younger, I truly believed I had to have everything together all the time. I thought perfection was the only way to be worthy of love — no mistakes, no mess, no needs. It was exhausting trying to earn acceptance like it was a reward. As I’ve grown, I’ve learned that real love isn’t conditional. Read more>>
Will Parker
I had a very unhealthy self esteem for a big portion of my life. My childhood was plagued by thoughts of ‘its amazing if someone else does it but it’s never good enough if I do’ which bled into every area of my life. Becoming an artist has forced me to crucify that framework of thinking. Read more>>
Joel JOSEPH
Fitting in was more important than being different, and would make me happy. Read more>>
Yoradi Jubie
As a child, I believed I wasn’t enough — that my value was measured by how much I could do, how well I performed, and how many people approved of me. I thought love had to be earned by bending over backward to please others and being accepted by everyone. That belief has been completely transformed. Read more>>
Glory Rodriguez
I will try to make this short and simple, but as a child people made me believe that I was too much or too weird or just difficult. As I have evolved I realized that my brain worked uniquely and differently than most. I admire how I think and who I am. Read more>>
Melissa Baldwin
I used to believe I could never measure up or accomplish any huge goals. I’m now a bestselling author of over thirty books and have readers all over the world. Read more>>
