Confidence
Going into a competitive program at UofT, I knew I had to face peer pressure in extracurriculars, work experiences and GPA. As much as I presented a cherry and happy vibe most of the time, I still have the short-lived negative sides.
"I've never done this before. This is too complicated.
There's no way it will work. No one bothers to communicate with me."
Negative self-talk can destroy my confidence in a snap. Boy was I born shy and sensitive; my instincts of reacting to things are to overanalyze. Overthinking caused unnecessary stress; it affected my sleep and my confidence.
Being an optimist means I laugh the terrible things off and concentrate on what I can do right now. I still get nervous when I network, but I know I'm the only one in charge of my emotions.
I've had many times that I lacked confidence, courage and motivation. I am lucky that positive individuals surround me. I'm also thankful for all the negative things that happened to me because they made me stronger and better. Most importantly, if the worse thing ever had just happened, the next event can only be better (even if it’s still terrible).
Our brain is trained to learn, to absorb information. We respond to uncertainty with different emotions. Embrace them and acknowledge that there are setbacks.
My secret of being so positive and happy most of the time is that I’m always on the move, physically and mentally. It helps me experience more things in life, figuring out differences in extreme misery and happiness. Again, everything is better when you compare everything to THE WORST THING EVER.