Embracing Self-Reliance: My Journey to Self-Worth

I don’t know why I didn’t realize that it was me doing this. Me—getting all of this done, solving my problems all along. But for some reason, I had it in my head that I had to have him there. That he had to be the one to get me from point A to point B.

If I’m being honest, a lot of that came from my first marriage. That husband spent a lot of time telling me all the things I couldn’t do.

Apparently, I have a type. And until I don’t… maybe I just need to stop dating.

Realization of Self-Worth:

When I was going through my first divorce, I remember thinking, over and over again, I can’t do this. I’m never going to be able to do this alone.

But if I’m being totally honest? That wasn’t even my voice saying that. It was his.

Why do I let men’s voices of doubt into my head, while fighting so hard to keep my own voice—the one full of confidence and self-worth—quiet?

Why did I think I needed someone else to be me? That’s something I’ll probably be trying to figure out for a very, very long time.

Breaking Old Beliefs:

One of the biggest things about coming from a place like Texas is that you don’t realize just how ingrained your beliefs are. I don’t even know where we got the idea that the only way to be happy is to cater to some man—hand and foot—for the rest of your life, no matter how he treats you.

Because that? That is silly.

And it’s definitely not going to work for me.

I don’t think we get through this life by being the exact same person we’ve always been.

I think, ultimately, we all struggle with self-worth from time to time. It’s not our fault. And even if it is, it’s not something we can just flip a switch on.

Sometimes, we fake it ‘til we make it.
And sometimes, we just have to find the good.

That’s such a big deal—to look for the good in yourself the same way you so optimistically look for it in others.

Because… why the heck not?