I frequently get asked this question: “Why are you so happy?” People have told me countless times that I'm vibrant, lively, enthusiastic–the list goes on! I've spent years living my life with the intention of enjoying it; of prioritizing love, compassion, community, and most importantly, MYSELF.

What most people don't know is that it took decades to form this mindset. The truth is, I haven't always been this way.

In the past, I was terrified of people judging me. I constantly felt like I wasn't good enough, that my talents, personality, and skills meant nothing. I always sacrificed my own comfort and happiness to please others, thinking it would bring me joy. Surprise! It never did.

My Game-Changer

The biggest game-changer for me in this journey was something most overlook: confidence. Confidence and joy work together, and you can't have one without the other! Confidence is the foundation from where all our happiness begins. Genuine happiness comes from a sense of well-being. When we feel secure, safe, know that we have a sense of purpose, feel genuinely loved and respected, then happiness will naturally occur. To reach that happiness, however, you must start with yourself.

If I asked you to write me a list, right now, of all the things you think would make you happier, it would probably look something like this:

- More money

- A partner

- More time

- Better health

- A vacation

- A nicer house/car

Though I'm sure all those things would make you happier temporarily, they don't tackle the root of your emotions.

What Matters?

To be truly happy and live a life of joy, you need to know your authentic self and begin to live in alignment with that person. Knowing what's important to you and knowing how to achieve those things comes with self-understanding and confidence. Seeking the items on that bullet point list instead of your own fulfillment is only putting a band-aid over the wound. Having more money doesn't bring confidence, but confidence can bring more money!

Having confidence is what will drive you to achieve. If you want a different lifestyle you need to be confident in your abilities and that you can make the needed changes. Put simply, self-confidence helps you believe you can achieve!

Confidence also boosts your self-esteem, giving you a better opinion of yourself! As you now know, liking yourself is a simple step to take to truly experience deep happiness. Personally, my self-love journey taught me that I don't need other people’s opinions, approval, or help all the time. It made me more self-reliant, independent, and resourceful! This power helped me grow my own business and community to share what I've learned!

I'm here to help you learn from my experiences so you don't make the same mistakes I did. It took me decades to learn that true happiness doesn't come from material wealth or external validation, and now you know after a few minutes of reading. Building confidence is the most important thing you can do for your own joy, and it's more straightforward than you think! You got this!