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.
Eliot Popkin
My Father was an addict and was physically abusive to me for most of my childhood, about 9 years or so. There were a lot of messages I received about myself that I no longer believe. I was taught to be invisible, to not cause any attention to myself. I was taught not to shine, not believe in myself or my gifts. Read more>>
Margaret Archambault
If I think too much about this question, I could easily find many things that I’ve grown to know that I didn’t know in my youth. Read more>>
Lili Stiefel
I internalized a core belief that I’m not enough. I’m not good enough to be loved the way I really desire to be. I’m not smart enough or pretty enough to be paid attention to. I’m not worthy enough for people to take me seriously, respect me, or meet my needs. I’m not worthy enough to be held and supported. Read more>>
Shrutee Tokekar
As a child growing up in India, I believed I already knew exactly who I was and what I wanted to do. Surrounded by vibrant textiles and meticulous handiwork, I assumed that my fascination with colours, textures, and fabric would naturally guide me into a career in fashion. My mother has always been a huge creative influence, and she still is. Read more>>
Chris Swan
When I was a kid, I always thought I was never good enough to be successful in music. I wasn’t good-looking enough, thin enough, cool enough, smart enough, or talented enough. I was always looking for the reasons things wouldn’t work instead of how they could work. Read more>>
Yui Shibata
As a child, I truly believed that the worlds in movies like Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings were real—that those magical places and characters actually existed somewhere. When I eventually realized it was all created with CGI, I remember feeling like I’d lost a bit of that magic. Read more>>
Anne Connor-Schroten
I used to believe I was ‘small.’ Not physically small; more like… spiritually small. I didn’t want people to perceive me as I was, and would prefer to make myself a chameleon to fit in with the masses. Read more>>
RAYMIN REYES
As a child, I used to believe that I had to have everything figured out — that life had to follow a perfect plan and that mistakes meant failure. But now, as an adult, a mom, and a creator, I’ve learned that growth actually happens in the in-between moments — the messy, uncertain, and unexpected ones. Read more>>
Mercy Ifeanyi Nwachukwu
