Tuesday Tidbit: Love Letter to Yourself

written by Kate H.

Everyone loves receiving mail, especially when it’s a letter full of love. Many teenage girls are constantly seeking the approval of others and wanting texts or letters. But what would YOU write in a love letter to YOURSELF? This is a question we should all ask ourselves. It may seem strange, but using this question to identify your strongest qualities can significantly change your attitude for the better, not just today, but in your future. So I asked some of my friends and family to answer this question. I also asked them to briefly reflect on how this writing process made them feel or what it made them recognize. While most of the quotes below are from teenagers, I attempted to have a few different ages to see if there was any difference between ages and also to show that everyone, no matter their age, could use some positive thinking in their lives. I hope you enjoy!

Ava (age 16)– “You are so loved by yourself and other people, including your friends and family. People have done wonderful things for you over the past 16 years you have been in the world. You have so many positive qualities seen by me and others. Know that you are worth it and have more confidence in the future.”

–>Reaction- “Writing this helped me remember that I have so many things to love about myself and that I should never forget that. Loving yourself can only make loving others easier. Self confidence is a great characteristic to have and I just wish that everyone had it in them.”

Age 46– “You are a great mom! Your dedication to teaching your children and helping them grow is inspiring. This world can be so tough sometimes, and standing up for your own beliefs and values can feel like a difficult task. Your strength to fight for those values and things you feel are important is admirable. I love you!”

–>Reaction- “Writing this reaffirmed that I am doing the best I can do for my kids. I know I am a strong person, but writing this actually gave me a boost in confidence to hold fast and continue to completely be myself. It encouraged me to continue teaching my children that many people have many different values and that is okay. What is important is that we stay true to our very own values no matter how different they may be from others.”

Savannah (age 11)– “Dear Savannah, I love you because you’re never afraid to be yourself in front of anyone. You will stand up for your friends and family at any time or in any situation. You’re a kindhearted, caring person who will be friends with anyone. Keep being your spunky, unique self and don’t change the amazing person you’ve become.”

–>Reaction- I was honored to have gotten chosen to write a letter about self confidence because that’s something many people deny from themselves. Everyone is beautiful just the way they are and should never change that because of another person.”

Meredith (age 16)– “I love you. Don’t worry; everything happens for a reason so it will all work out. Enjoy the small things in life, and never take anything for granted. You can do anything you set your mind to. You are never too old to wish upon a star, so keep dreaming girl!”

Kendall (age 17)– “I am unique, therefore my actions do not have to mirror those of others. I shouldn’t compare myself to anyone else because there is only one me and she’s pretty great, and lastly intelligence, creativity, and talent can carry you much farther than looks.”

–>Reaction- “I felt like I was bragging about myself (which is okay because we need to do that sometimes), but it also forced me to find parts of myself that I really liked and ones that I didn’t.”

Audrey (age 16)– “I admire your passion and love for dance! Always remember you’re perfect, no matter what!”

–>Reaction- “Writing this to myself made me feel empowered and confident within!”

Your “She is Fierce” team:

Emma (age 16)– “I love how intelligent and hardworking you are. You should appreciate yourself and your compassion. You will make a difference in this world; all you need to do is believe in yourself.”

–>Reaction- “It was a bit hard to think of the things I wanted to say to myself. We put ourselves down so much that it is sometimes hard to give ourselves a boost. But it feels good to just appreciate my own qualities.”

Rachel (age 15)– “You are such a resilient person, and you can do anything that you set your mind to. You are kind and you have a big heart, so don’t let anyone bring you down!”

–>Reaction- “It’s really weird to point out our own qualities because we are so used to trying to focus on other people but it is really great to realize how awesome we are individually.”

Jessica (age 16)– “You are so strong. You are stronger than you could ever imagine. You work hard and push your limits to reach your goals. No matter what anybody says, you are beautiful inside and out. Never forget it, and don’t let people change who you are.”

–>Reaction- “I had lots of confidence issues during grade school and early in high school. I would let myself be influenced by my friends and I never really had the urge to discover who I really was. This year I took the time to really connect more with myself and learn who I was and how amazing it felt to truly be myself.”

Kate (age 16)– “I love your persistence. You are constantly trying to become a better, well-rounded person. I love that by staying busy, working hard, and trying new things, you are growing as a person. You are always looking out for others and trying to make them happy. Be sure to make yourself happy too:) Keep smiling and working hard.”

–>Reaction-“ It was harder than expected. We are always comparing ourselves to others or looking at what others have, wishing we had it. By solely focusing on my attributes, I found that my intentions are pure and I should never hold back because of fear of what others may think.”

While receiving these responses from my friends and family, I couldn’t help but smile. To hear people compliment themselves and be proud of their characteristics brings such joy to me as I hope it did to you, too.

This exercise is one that I encourage everyone to try! Simply grab a scrap piece of paper and a pencil and begin writing. Even a short sentence is enough to promote positive thinking. You can save the piece of paper to look at periodically when you begin to doubt yourself. It can definitely be awkward at first, but it also may come easy. Either way, it’s great to take 5 minutes of your time and congratulate yourself on everything you are and everything you stand for as an individual. By challenging yourself to recognize the good in yourself, you are also helping yourself look for the good in others.