We were on holiday in the Gold Coast around 2018 when a message from our tenant brought bad news. A storm had hit Victoria, and the roof of our property had flown off, damaging several items inside.
I immediately informed my partner, bracing for a dramatic reaction. I envisioned him panicking, pacing, and hastily devising a plan, perhaps even arranging for us to cut our trip short and fly back to Victoria. Instead, to my surprise, he simply looked at the photos, said calmly, "Okay, and what’s next?" and moved on. While everyone else seemed to spiral into panic, he remained completely composed.
That moment stayed with me, and over time, I’ve often reflected on his response. I realized that his calmness likely stemmed from past experiences of dealing with challenging situations. This resilience is something I aspire to cultivate in my own business. For years, I’ve struggled with staying composed under pressure. Small errors once left me in tears, and feelings of overwhelm were frequent companions. Interestingly, this mirrored how I used to respond to judgments about my appearance.
When it comes to appearance, many of us face similar "storms." Negative comments, societal beauty standards, or our own insecurities can feel overwhelming, much like any other crisis. But just as I’m learning to stay calm and composed in business challenges, I’ve come to see that the same principle applies to self-esteem. Instead of panicking or internalizing every criticism or comparison, we can choose to pause, breathe, and respond with self-compassion.
Both resilience and self-esteem are shaped by real-life experiences and the environments we grow up in. Research shows that individuals raised in secure and supportive settings are better equipped to handle external challenges, whether it is criticism of their choices or their appearance. Fortunately, resilience isn’t just innate; it can be developed. Over time, we can build emotional and self-esteem "muscles" that enable us to face these situations without being reactive.
That incident in 2018 taught me the value of staying calm, not just under external pressure, but also in the face of internal doubts about my appearance or abilities. By fostering resilience, we can learn to embrace our natural beauty and authenticity, remaining composed even when societal pressures threaten to shake our confidence. It’s a skill I continue to work on, with the hope of becoming a positive example for myself and those around me.
If you’d like to explore cultivating confidence in your natural beauty, visit my website at www.ccwithin.com
Picture: Kusama’s exhibition in Melbourne
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