My Journey to Self-Confidence

This is a picture of me almost exactly three years ago:

And this is a picture of me now:

Now, you might be thinking this is one of those stories that you see in Weight Watchers ads on T.V. endorsing a diet. I promise it's not. This journey was about so much more than a number on a scale. It was about working towards being able to recognize my divine nature as a daughter of God.

I'll start at the beginning. When I started my freshman year at BYU, my self-confidence was at an all time low. I would try on about five outfits every morning, look in the mirror, and then immediately change. My low self-esteem was reflected in the way I talked to people, the way I dressed, and just the overall way that I carried myself. I compared myself to everyone else around me and was constantly tearing myself down. My lack of self-esteem seemed so obvious, yet it seemed like no one truly understood how I felt. I knew I needed to make some changes, but I just didn't know how.

After winter semester of my freshman year, I went home for the summer. I remember walking into the kitchen one morning and my mom was watching The Today Show. I don't remember what the anchor was talking about but she said, "If there's anything you can do to make yourself feel more confident, do it." I literally stopped dead in my tracks. I realized then that it was up to me to make the changes necessary to see myself as a beautiful daughter of God. I realized first that I needed to change the way I ate. I turned to food when I was happy, I turned to food when I was sad, and I turned to food for everything in between. With the help of my mom, I completely changed my diet. I gave myself a calorie limit for each day, and filled those calories with nutritious and healthy foods. I was even able to find delicious, healthier versions of desserts to curb my sweet tooth and I started exercising almost every day. A whole new world had been opened up to me. Just about this time two years ago, I finally reached a point where I was truly gaining confidence and starting to recognize my divine nature.

Making these drastic changes was not easy. Thankfully, I was not alone. I had help. Every day, I would pray that the Lord would help me be disciplined with food. There were also many times when I didn't think I could last another second on the treadmill and I silently said a prayer to the Lord for strength to finish. This was a prime example in my life where I've seen the enabling power of the Atonement. I gave everything I could, and the Savior made up the difference. The Lord also blessed me with family and friends who supported and encouraged me, and who I knew would love me no matter what. 

I honestly couldn't tell you how many pounds I lost, because as I've come to realize, that was not what this journey was about. It was about being able to confidently walk tall and recognize that I am a daughter of God with more divine worth and potential that I could ever comprehend. This journey completely changed me. I am so much more confident than I ever imagined I could be. I can talk to people, I can stand up and teach a group of people, I can share my beliefs, and I see myself as a beautiful daughter of God. I know without a doubt that Heavenly Father lives and loves us, because we are his children. He sent his son Jesus Christ to suffer for or sins, as well as take our burdens upon him so that we can receive strength in times of need. Never forget that you are a precious son or daughter of Heavenly Father with divine potential, and that He loves you more than you can comprehend!