I never get tired of cheering for young people. Aging can be tough, but for some of us, being young was no picnic.
As a young person, I was incredibly insecure. I thought I was ugly, not smart enough, uncoordinated, inadequate—you name it, I felt it. I struggled with a severe eating disorder, cycling between bulimia and anorexia, along with major depressive disorder and Anxiety.
Ironically, the obsessive-compulsive tendencies that fueled my eating disorder also became a source of strength. The same intensity I used to control food and punish myself? I eventually redirected it toward writing and publishing books, building a freelance career, running long distances, parenting my kids as best as I could, and cultivating discipline.
These days, sure—my skin is more crepey, my joints are creakier—but I’ve been through so much and come out the other side. At 61, my self-confidence is through the roof compared to my youth.
I don’t think being older is “better”—it’s just different. With age comes a knowing. I understand now, in a deeply rooted way, what I’m capable of—something I couldn’t have fully known when I was younger, simply because I hadn’t lived it yet.
So if you’re younger and feeling insecure, defeated, or not enough—keep going. Keep working on yourself.
That commitment alone makes all the difference. One day, you’ll look back and say, “I did it.” And that certainty will carry you forward, again and again.
Does any of this resonate? I’d love to hear.
#selfconfidence #thisis61 #clarasunwoo #clarasunwoostyle #midlifestyle
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