What if I don’t win the award?

Today is the Australia Day, the council will announce the recipient of the Young Citizen Award. I realised that the thought of not receiving it makes me nervous. Then it hit me that I’ve been focusing more on the award itself than on what it actually represents. The award is about adding value to the community, not about competing to win.

Just like when I applied for TEDx, I didn’t overthink whether I would be selected. It was simply a dream to stand on a TEDx stage, speak to a live audience, and share something I care deeply about: body confidence. To talk about how so many people feel held back by how they look, and how rebuilding our self image can change the way we live our lives.

At the end of the day, it’s never about who looks shinier or better. It’s about how much we contribute in the areas we care about. As human beings, we all want to be seen and heard. Sometimes that very natural desire can quietly shape our choices without us even realising it.

Even on social media, I notice how easy it is to slip into sharing only the polished parts of life. Instead of always sharing what’s real and meaningful, we can start sharing what makes us look good. That’s why I sometimes feel that when a post looks too shiny, I need to include some of the messy or uncomfortable truths about what was really happening in real life. Those “ugly facts” are real too, and there is no need to hide them.

So if it’s not me, I’m still going to celebrate the fact that someone out there believes I’ve added some kind of value to society while I’m alive.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Please scroll to the bottom of the page to leave a comment. I will reply to you personally.

About the author

I’m Chi Chi Wang, helping people who struggle with body image build confidence and live with purpose.

Thank you for reading. If this reflection spoke to you, I invite you to explore more articles, each one is written to help you build confidence, self-worth, and a healthier body image.

📖 My book From Ugly to Beautiful Without Surgery is now available, created from over ten years of exploration into what true beauty really means.

💡 If you’re ready to go deeper, C.C.Within offers workshops, talks, and coaching programs designed to help you rebuild self-trust and live with purpose.

The C.C.WITHIN™ Model is my original framework for building undeniable confidence without changing your appearance. First introduced in 2025.

Feel free to share this article with someone who may need it. Every share helps spread a message of confidence and authenticity.

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