11/16/2025
💭 5 Things I’d Tell My 20-Year-Old Self About Self-Esteem (Now That I’m 35)
1️⃣ Your cleft lip doesn’t define your beauty — it deepens your story.
The scars you spent years trying to hide are proof of resilience. You are not less beautiful because you were born different — you are more human. Confidence grows when you stop apologizing for your story.
2️⃣ Self-care isn’t selfish — it’s survival.
Taking time to rest, say no, and refill your energy is how you keep showing up for yourself and others. You don’t need to earn rest — you deserve it.
3️⃣ Choose people who match your values, not your wounds.
Love that feels like chaos isn’t passion — it’s unhealed pain. Choose partners and friends who are consistent, kind, and grounded. The right people will never make you question your worth.
4️⃣ Healing isn’t linear, but growth is inevitable.
You’ll outgrow jobs, relationships, and versions of yourself that once felt safe. Change doesn’t mean you failed — it means you’re expanding.
5️⃣ Invest — in yourself.
Put your time, energy, and money into self-growth, therapy, hobbies, learning, and creativity. The best ROI you’ll ever see is peace, confidence, and a life that actually feels like yours.
✨ You don’t find self-esteem — you build it through compassion, consistency, and courage.
