As people, we tend to find it easy to criticize ourselves based on society’s standards, but there are things you should not be ashamed of just because it doesn’t compare to everyone’s expectations. You should be proud of yourself as a person no matter how different you may be. Everyone takes his or her own path in life and it would be a little peculiar if your life was identical to someone else’s. Here are 11 things you should not be ashamed of.
While some people have gone through numerous relationships and others have had none, your love life is one of the things you should not be ashamed of. Everyone is wired in his or her own way. Some need more experience to finally find the one and others tend to wait in order to find someone to settle down with. So if you had only 1 relationship or 30, don’t be ashamed of that part of your life.
With so many media and social influences, it is hard not to find flaws in yourself. However, there is no way to be completely happy when you can’t accept your own body. Yes, you might not be at your best shape, but you can always change that. However, for now, accept your body the way it is and don’t be ashamed of your appearance.
It takes time before you become successful and can easily support your family. However, everyone gets to that point in a different time period. Therefore, although you might be struggling financially right now, remember that this is just the process that almost everyone has to go through until they are financially stable. It might be tomorrow or it might be years from now, but with hard work and dedication you are bound to be successful.
This point can be nicely tied together with the previous one. Some people are born into rich families but others are fated to start from the bottom. However, none of that matters because although we don’t choose where we come from, we can always choose where we go from here. And let’s face it, your rough start just strengthened you as a person!
I think it is evident that you are bound to make mistakes no matter where you come from. It is part of the learning process and it is impossible to escape them. So instead of hiding you past mistakes and failures, be comfortable enough to talk about them if needed. You learned how to overcome them and you should get credit for that.
As a child you don’t get the right of judging your parents unless they have really done something atrocious. They are your parents and you should always take their side no matter what. You should be proud of who they are, what they did and where they came from. They have dedicated most of their life to raise you correctly and therefore you should be proud of them at all times.
Let’s all admit that we are quirky and unique in our own way, but why hide that? The only way to stand out from the crowd is to let the true you shine. So instead of conforming to how others act and what others like, start your own trend and ‘do you.’ At the end of the day you will feel more confident about yourself and comfortable in your own skin, once you stop hiding behind a curtain that feeds on your fear of judgment.
Some people are more comfortable with a small group of friends than a large crowd. Don’t feel bad if your number of friends is low. As long as they’re always there for you, who cares? Amazing pals are hard to come by. If you find one or two, you’re a lucky girl!
Your traits define whom you are. If you’re shy, don’t beat yourself up over it. Everyone is different. Some people are naturally outgoing, and it’s okay if you’re not one of those people. You should never be ashamed of your personality.
Your intelligence isn’t able to be accurately portrayed over a report card. Everyone is talented in different areas, and everyone shows their smarts in different ways. If you did poorly on a test, that doesn’t mean that you’re a failure. It just means that you didn’t know the material that was on the test. Don’t take things out of proportion. You should always try to ace your exams, but don’t fret if you fail.
Your family and friends won’t always understand why you’re upset over certain situations. They can’t imagine themselves in your shoes, so they can’t grasp your every emotion. You have a right to feel however you feel. Don’t ever be ashamed over how angry or upset you get. Everyone has different pressure points, and we all have to live with them.
Shame is not a pleasant feeling, so in order to increase your happiness it is better to learn how to accept everything that comes with you. Your past, your background or your monthly check don’t really define who you are today. How did you learn to overcome shame and discomfort? Share in the comments!
This article was written in collaboration with editor Holly Riordan.