We asked folks a question that led to many surprising answers – some sad, some thought-provoking and some funny. We’ve highlighted a cross section of those responses below.
Mike DeSorda
That’s easy. As a child, I was told by my school systems that I had no musical abilities, that I was tone deaf, and not to bother with any music classes. Unfortunately, as a child, this negative feedback clearly set me back and stifled any thoughts of even trying to take music beyond just a casual music fan. Read More>>
Miles Gray
As a child I believed my mental illness would not get better, and I’ve come to accept that not only is that not true, it’s completely worth fighting to heal. Every day I face impossible challenges that six year old me couldn’t even fathom, yet I keep going because I’ve built a life and a home worth staying in. Read More>>
Sabrina Schottenhamel
I carried with me a lingering feeling that started when I was held back in first grade. I don’t remember anyone specifically telling me “Sabrina, you are stupid.” Yet I believed that ‘I was stupid’ and it consumed me throughout most of my school years. Yep. I used to believe that I was stupid because of having to repeat a grade. Read More>>
Elizabeth Koraca
“Don’t quit your day job.” That’s what my high school English teacher said to me following a class presentation. It was a horrible and defeating comment. I was a shy and fearful child, and this statement reinforced my fears. Was that comment the driving force that propelled me forward into my career as an on-air TV reporter? It might have been. Read More>>
Jacqueline Dunn
Growing up, I thought my job was to keep everyone happy and never cause trouble. Stay quiet, be agreeable, don’t rock the boat… and maybe then I’d be loved and safe. Turns out, silencing yourself costs way too much. Now I believe the complete opposite. My voice matters. My choices matter. Read More>>
Jessica Morris
As a child, I believed I wasn’t capable of achieving big things or being truly confident in myself. I doubted my abilities and often thought I wasn’t ‘enough.’ Over time, through personal challenges, growth, and taking action toward my goals, I’ve realized that I am capable, resilient, and deserving of success. That old belief no longer defines me. Read More>>
Benjamin Gilmour
For the longest time I believed I had to go it alone; that asking for help or even seeking it made me appear weak or stupid. I’m so glad I learned that there is nothing quite like having a great team behind you. Read More>>
Cocoa Pearlesque
As a child, I believed I was ugly, dumb, unimportant, just a nobody. Being adopted, you start life with questions like, ‘Why wasn’t I wanted?’ That alone can plant seeds of self, doubt. Read More>>
Haley Slade
I grew up, even into early adulthood, believing I had no skills or talent. I thought I had no purpose in life and was just ‘taking up space.’ I didn’t believe I was good at anything or had anything to offer. Honestly, it kept me in a very low spot until the Lord Himself pulled me out and saved me. Read More>>
David Miniatures
As a kid (and let’s be honest, most adults still hear this too), you’re taught that you can’t actually make a living as an artist, or at least not a comfortable one. Read More>>
Aadya Chaudhary
As a kid, I used to believe that you had to “wait your turn” to do meaningful things, that impact and leadership were reserved for adults or people with impressive titles. I thought I had to grow up first to make a difference. Over time, through co-starting Empowerfly and connecting with young changemakers around the world, I realized that age isn’t a barrier to impact. Read More>>
J’Bria Iyall
As a child, I thought I needed to be in a box. I was performing to how I thought others wanted me to be. When I approached my mid-thirties, I realized it was time to reclaim the pieces of myself that thought I had to shrink to fit in. I started to bloom in my season of unbecoming. Read More>>
Justine Krohn
I remember in middle school my art teacher told me that I wasn’t talented and would never be an artist. I carried that with me for a long time and eventually decided not to pursue art even though it had been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. Read More>>
Mary Haberski
As a child, I believed I had to earn love and prove my worth by constantly achieving or pleasing others. I carried this sense that my value depended on how much I did, how perfect I was, or how much I sacrificed. That belief shaped so much of my early journey — it made me strong, but it also kept me small. Read More>>
Harley Hendrixx
As a child, I believed that I needed to be good. I believed that others needed to think highly of me. Honestly, I felt I should never make any unrequested noise in the world at all. I am the youngest of my mom’s six children. She had to have multiple surgeries to bring me into this world. Read More>>
Cristy Coors Beasley
As a young adult/teenager, I really believed that perfection in the pursuit would lead to perfection in the outcome. I put a lot of pressure on myself, and I would be so crestfallen if anything turned out differently than I imagined it to be. Read More>>
Conor Grebel
Oh I always thought I was very unintelligent, and a destined failure. Growing up, everybody around me struggled much less with school and homework, and I figured my grades were a reflection of my intelligence. I also often did not feel comfortable at home, so it makes sense to me that I felt no direction or purpose in the world. Read More>>
Artist Cierra Lynn
As a child I didn’t realize how gifted I am. I didn’t realize how powerful I am. Now, I no longer believe that I can’t be anything I want to be. I don’t believe that I can’t be successful as an artist. I get to decide. I am exactly who I think I am, and I believe that. Read More>>
Louise Baigelman
As a child I was shy and nervous, but I was also full of thoughts, stories, and ideas. The older I became, the more I began to believe in my own voice. It truly wasn’t until recently that I discovered something that I now try to teach my own children: you should not be afraid of sharing your vision with the world. Read More>>
C.L.
I believed that other people had to see it in me for me to succeed. I thought that if no one else believed I could, that achievement wasn’t possible. I now know this isn’t true. If I set my mind to something, it’s in my reach. Read More>>
Angela Marshall
I was conditioned to be seen and not heard as a child. Now I am seen and heard. Read More>>
Daniela Duncan
That’s a great question! I once believed I couldn’t have a career as a photographer. I remember when I was a kid looking at photography books, thinking how awesome it would be to be a photographer. I was discouraged then; I was told it was impractical, that I needed to go to college, etc. Read More>>
Kendra Elyse
As a child, I believed I was too sensitive and too dramatic. I was often told I felt too much, cried too easily, or made things bigger than they were. So I learned to shrink, to second-guess my emotions, to quiet my voice. Now I know that my sensitivity is a superpower. Read More>>
Rita Zhang
Work hard, and you will succeed.’ This sounds like a simple, straightforward truth—one I deeply believed in as a child. But as I grew older, I realized that success isn’t just the result of hard work. Read More>>
Nuodi A
When I first started creating animation, I believed that if I worked hard enough, I could become a creator as great as Miyazaki (lol), but now I think it’s certainly impossible! Because every creator is special, our experiences, ideas, and raw intuition shape our work, not to be created to be somebody great. Read More>>
Gary Greenberg
Basically nothing. All of my core beliefs as a child remain pretty much the same. Read More>>
Precious Perez
When I was a painfully shy child afraid to speak up, I believed my voice would always be soft and timid, but I realize now that this was only true until I found my voice. Read More>>
Sil Curiati
As a child, I believed that hard work was everything—that if I just studied harder, performed better, and gave my all, life would reward me. So I became that A student, the overachiever, the one who showed up early and stayed late, always striving to be the best at whatever I did. For a long time, I thought that dedication alone would speak for itself. Read More>>
Ashley Cooks
As a child growing up with dyslexia, I believed I wasn’t smart. I thought struggling to read or needing extra time meant I wasn’t capable—and I carried that weight for a long time. Read More>>
