Confidence is a skill that some people might lack. We might not think we are pretty, or that our body is as perfect as we want it to be. Maybe we think that we could have done just a little bit better on that last test, or that we could have tried a little harder to look more presentable. A lack of self-confidence casts a dark shadow over our true identity, inhibiting us to accentuate the positives. There are many different kinds of confidence, all of which people everywhere should exemplify every day.

Being confident means ignoring the negative self-talk. You might look in the mirror on any given day and wish you saw something different. Maybe nothing you try on looks good on you, or the makeup you chose just doesn't make your eyes pop. You need to learn to cast those deprecating thoughts into the wind. There is nothing wrong with that person in the mirror, just the personal thoughts and opinions overshadowing them. Embrace the person you see, and see your flaws as unique qualities that make you who you are.

Being confident means disregarding what other people tell you to be. So many times, people see models in magazines or on television and long to be like them. This might send them into crash diets and crazy exercise routines, a vicious cycle in which it seems almost impossible to break free. Society should not have the right to tell people how they should look in order to appear "socially acceptable." Ignore the girl in school who everyone longs to emulate, or the guy in the gym who could bench 200 pounds blindfolded. Never strive to be someone else, but rather to become an even better YOU. Do not allow society to change the way you view yourself, and act fearlessly in showing them who you really are.

Being confident means not being afraid to have a voice. Differing opinions within a society allows for people to become educated, and broaden their minds on certain subjects. Too many people nowadays are too "black and white" and one-sided, and that needs to change. Many people feel intimidated to voice their opinions for fear of rejection, or that they might get made fun of for thinking a certain way. It's differences in opinions that creates overall societal diversity, and no one should keep their thoughts in the dark. There is no such thing as a wrong opinion, and the only pointless thoughts are the ones left unsaid. So speak up, because that single thought you've kept bottled up could change the world someday.

Being confident means believing in your own abilities. There is always going to be someone more talented that you, faster than you, stronger than you, or smarter than you. However, that does not mean you have none of these attributes. Be confident in doing the best that YOU can do, and do not compare yourself to someone else. We are all different, and even though someone might be faster than you, you might have a better grade in calculus than them! While I am not suggesting becoming competitive with others, notice the differences in everyones abilities and embrace it. Never say that you wish you could do something "just like her" because you aren't her, you are YOU.

Being confident means not being afraid to show the world who you really are. If you are feeling sad one day, show someone. If you are feeling happy, spread the happiness to others. If you decide that today is the day to wear no makeup and sweatpants, own it. Whether your at your highest or lowest, dressing up or dressing down, nothing should keep you from showing it to the world. We cannot all be perfect every day, and we all need to openly accept that perfection is overrated and impossible. We all have those days where nothing seems to go right, and keeping our feelings bottled up only makes us feel worse. Find someone to express these feelings to, and be confident in the fact that they will not judge you for feeling that way.

Being confident means embracing failure. As I previously stated, no one is perfect, and if we were the world would be boring. We make mistakes, and many times we are too hard on ourselves for them. We allow the mistakes to demoralize us, or to define us as people. That is the incorrect approach, for every mistake should be taken as a learning experience. You might learn what not to do, or how to act properly in certain situations, which will ultimately make you a better person. Regardless, you should never take a mistake as an opportunity to criticize yourself, because that will send you into a cycle of negative self assessment. So chin up, accept failure, and move on as a better, stronger individual.

Confidence can mean something different to everyone, and we all have different areas of confidence that could use improvement. However, we should not allow any lack of confidence define who we are. While we can admit we are not perfect, we should not see that as being anything other than unique. Everyone deserves to have a healthy sense of self confidence (that is, not becoming self absorbed), and express who they really are to the world around them.

Never be afraid of acceptance

Never fear rejection

Never compare

Never deprecate yourself

Never think of yourself as anything other than great

Never hold back.