When I was a little girl growing up there were words my mom would strand together to give me encouragement and instruction. I heard them so much over my span of life that it became second nature to me. As I grew into a teenage girl, I can remember rolling my eyes a time or two as she would say them, “Stand up straight, put your shoulders back, chin up, walk in confidence.” Today, those are the very words I am saying to my own daughters who are living in a world where tearing down is more common than building up.

This week at our High School we are celebrating “Self Confidence Week” thanks to our amazing FCCLA. All week long we have been dressing up to different themes each day to ROCK our confidence. I wish all it took was a week of dressing up and morning announcements to fix our insecurities. Unfortunately, it can take a lifetime of overcoming the whispers inside of our head, or from others, that tell us we are not enough.

I believe one of the most powerful and important lessons we can teach our children is to know who they are as a child of God. If we can plant that seed in them, and it takes root, it is sure to blossom and grow. I am so grateful my mom never stopped chanting and cheering me on.

It’s not hard to do. Here are some easy things we can say every single day to help plant the seed of self-confidence: YOU are loved. YOU are valued. YOU are chosen. YOU are adored. YOU are worthy. YOU are FREE to be who God made YOU to be. You are HIS! SOAR!

A few weeks back we took our oldest daughter to interview for a full scholarship at the college she will attend. She was nervous as there were over 60 students invited to participate for the 2 full paid scholarships. The President and Senior Vice President spoke to the parents as the students went off in groups to be interviewed.  This is how the Senior Vice President started her time with us.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Eleanor Roosevelt

She went on to tell us how this statement was shared by one of her professors when she was in college and how the Professor spoke life into hers by telling her that she had a voice and needed to not be afraid to use it. She went on to become a Debate Teacher, Professor and now is the Senior Vice President of Southwestern College.

Why do I tell you this story? I want you to see the power of influencing others by speaking life into them. I want you to also see the power that we behold in how we think and believe.  It rests in us. No one can make you feel in inferior without your consent means that you have the power to listen or not. You have the power to believe it or not. When you know who you are and to whom you belong, there is nothing or no one that can take away your confidence. You are simply free to WALK in CONFIDENCE.

So what’s stopping you today from walking in confidence? Stand up straight, put your shoulders back, chin up and walk in confidence!

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29

If you know someone who is struggling with their own self-worth, share this with them. Play this song for them. Listen with them and then build them up.  You will never know the impact it may make on them. You could very well help them to SOAR and become all that God designed them to be. Be BRAVE! Be BOLD! Be YOU!