Confidence!

To teach a girl confidence is to embrace her authentic self.

Little girls have the inner spirit of a lion. They revel in curiosity, watching the growing world around them blossom like a tulip in springtime.

They don’t need permission to be bold and brave, they just are.

As we grow into adolescence, the world feeds us stories of things we’re not allowed to do because we’re fragile and weak.

At some point we start believing that we aren’t allowed to strive for everything we want because it’s not our place...

We are discouraged from high risk activities.

Bullied out of striving for high profile jobs and asking for raises.

Every time we make a mistake, we think we are small and insignificant.

We are told to focus on hair, makeup, shoes, gossip and the appearance of our bodies.

We are told that unless our physical appearance is perfect - we won't be good enough.

We start to see rotting roses in the reflection of our mirrors.

As a result, we buy thousands of cosmetic products that unknowingly mess with our health, initiating an even wider opening into the deep wound of insecurity.

What I’ve learned from the world around me as a young woman is that in order to fit in, you have to give up your natural powers and make yourself seem smaller and weaker than you really are.

The reward for this? You appear less difficult and more tolerable to the masses.

We forget to live curiously and vivaciously in the garden of life.

We are born confident and incredibly secure in the power of our abilities.

If I’ve learned anything from my precious time as a nanny to young girls - it’s that confidence is our most natural instinct. It's our most beautiful asset.

My most rewarding transformation stemmed from living within the place of the courageous little girl, whose inner self hasn’t been tainted by society’s opinions.

I invite you to encourage confidence in girls. As they grow through womanhood, they will utilize their gifts to live the life they want, instead of compromising their authenticity to fit in.