Confidence.

On my mind the last week:

Confidence, and the lack thereof in the female population especially.  

Gals, listen up:  We all need to embrace ourselves. We are what we are. Everyone can use improvement, sure. But you, yourself- right now? You are freaking awesome. You are a work of art. You are simply amazing.

Why are we letting one little flaw, or one little perceived flaw grab hold of our minds? Why are we obsessing over our looks, or clothes, or home decorating, etc?  Why this nitpicking dominating our conversations?

Why do we send negative messages through our thoughts and hearts, repeatedly, so often? And when we aren't, we are wishing and thinking of a body shape or a skill or a trait we don't have?

I don't know why we do it. I do it, but I hope that I'm getting better. I want us all to knock it off and be CONFIDENT. Let's do it together.  Let's change today, on this Monday morning. Think positive things about yourself. Don't dwell on negative. 

I've been pondering this topic a lot this week, because as I reflect on the friends we have and the new friends we've made, there are many who stand out in my mind- many who we feel connected with- and drawn to.  I love the feeling you get when you meet somebody and it's electric. Have you felt that?  There's something about this person you just really, really like. 

I decided this week that those people are the confident people. They own it. They respect themselves, they don't dwell on the negative or the flawed, and they create a positive feeling wherever they go.  I know even these people have bad days. But I'm fairly certain that these people are not obsessing over the little things.

I want to be confident. I want to OWN. So I'm going to be this. I am going to be confident.

(A tiny side note. Tyler is a super confident person. Which is pretty much why he is awesome. On any given day you will find Tyler in a great mood, ready to roll, sending out good vibes, knowing he can take it all on. I dare you all to meet him and not find him irresistible. I DARE YOU!)

Two parents raising six incredibly amazing kids.

 

Comments

[maria roth]

ich liebe diesen post!!!

[Jack]

Aw! Love these shots - they all look great in their co-ordinated outfits. My favourite is the shot where the little one is looking directly at the camera, while the others are tickling her!

[kristin]

okay, i'll choose confidence today too.

thanks for the inspiration on so many levels.

[Charlotte]

The first pic made me homesick for the UK (where I went to grad school) then as I scrolled down I thought, "wait a minute, I know that campus!" Woo hoo undergrad. What a fantastic looking family in a great location.

[Burgess]

Love the pictures and the sentiment expressed today! I've been thinking about the same thing lately.

[gail]

Confidence is attractive! Love the photo shoot! Love the outfits!

[Sundeep @ Designwali]

okay...I'm going to be confident & positive this week. great post and fab family shots!

[Taylor K]

These photos are ridiculously adorable. I love their outfits and the baby chub legs in the last photo just about did me in. Cute attack.

[Farrah]

I am going to try and be more confident. Thanks for the boost. And I would definitely be confident if I had this cute family! They are so adorable and so well coordinated! Very cute!

[Cat]

first...great family shots
everything...perfection!

your words...PERFECTION!!!!
preach it sister!
the beauty of people is so diverse and amazing...and the further I get into it the further I find this to be true.
Women I would have never given a second thought to in my 20s..or even 30's are Goddess to me now. Beauty is something that goes deep with in...is it because we don't WANT to go deeper that we miss this..are we afraid of what we will find in ourselves if we go deeper?
Are we stuck not seeing others beauty because we are stuck on our own perception of our lack?

When we embrace it all...the confidence comes with out fail...and with out struggle
I reach for that today!
Thank you for the inspiration!

Love and Light

[Natalie]

LOVE these inspiring words! I agree wholeheartedly.

[Pol]

Ok - I'm listening to you Wendy - confidence is something I've always struggled with - Isomething to work on this week :)

[Jenean]

Confidence! Yes!! I am going think of this post every time one of those negative thoughts tries to make its way into my brain. Very lovely, encouraging words! Happy Monday to you!

[elizabeth pellette]

well said.. I so need to work on this myself.. because I do everything you said.. and I dont want my daughter or my boys for that matter to ever think they arent perfect just the way they are... thanks for the reminder and I am going to find a way to just be confident. fake it til you make it if ya have to.:)

[mandy conn]

i've never once been a fan of a family in matching clothes, until these photos! how do they (you) pull that off? they're like candy. i think i love them:) and i love your confidence bit. for my daughter's sake, i'm going to wake up tomorrow morning OWNING it more than ever. glad you're home safe, btw ... hope to catch you next time you're in the ATL!

[Genevieve]

I'm new to your blog, but let me tell you what an inspired post you had. I've been really feeling terrible lately and I realized how much of it was because I've been down on myself for the stupidest little things and wishing I were just a little bit different than I am. Thanks for telling me what I needed to hear. I don't hear it often enough, especially not from myself.

Your photography is great because it's hard not to look at these photos and see that the people in them are awesome. If only we could see ourselves that way more often.

[lindsey]

I can hear your voice in this post and see your posture and everything... I'm glad that's something I can say. I love every.SINGLE.word and just reading it made me beam. You shine (confidently). *my new favorite family sesh to date... it IS. xo

[Mandy]

Hands down agree and it is definitely I have been thinking a lot about lately and not just for myself but as my responsibility to be a good example to raise a confident daughter. You rock Wendy!!!!

[Eve]

Yes. Just yes.

[Laura Bernstein]

Beautiful post, and I love this family's attire!

[jana]

You're awesome Wendy, and so is Tyler... Just ask him. ;)

[Peggy]

I needed that. Thank you.

[carissa... brown eyed fox]

oh wendy...those shots!
that family.
they're gorgeous!

and your words...
can i say...
it's like you climbed into my head and said out loud what i was thinking!
we women aRe way too hard on ourselves!

those negative thoughts drown out the good ones... we so rarely allow in our heads!
it's crazy!
i agree... we need to embrace... give ourselves a break!

thanks for sharing!
thank yOu!
going to think of you when i put on my confident pants tomorrow!

btw... we sure loved meeting you!
such a treat!

[corinne @ psychomoney.com]

Seriously, why do we do that to ourselves! As women we do tend to let our imperfections weigh us down, rather than focus on all the awesome stuff that we can do. We silly women! I don't think guys have this problem.
Great Photos by the way. What a beautiful family!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE their outfits. So cute.

[Elena Thurston]

I have been thinking very similar thoughts. I have been cranking out the holiday photo sessions, showcasing these beautiful women. And from size very small to very large, the response is the same. "What beautiful pictures! Of course, I hate myself. I just hate pictures of myself. I'm too old/fat/bony/insert adjective here." No matter how stunning the photo, how good the photoshopping, no matter if I've taken 15 years off her face, the response is the same.

It has taught me a lot about embracing who I am now. That is one way to be truly unique in today's world.

[Diane]

I wrote a few days ago how much I loved everything about this post... and how inspiring you are... but perhaps I messed it up. I echo your sentiments, Wendy. Raising two young daughters we try hard to lead by example the importance of being confident. Most days I feel like we're doing a great job... but there are those days I want to crawl in a hole! Can't wait to hear about your homecoming!!! xoxo

[mindy pitcher]

if i had been keeping up on my most favorite blogs, i would have read this the exact day i needed it. possibly could have avoided and entirely too big emotional eruption that claimed my husband as its sole victim. you are truly inspired. thank you for your wise wise words!

[Cousin Emily]

I was just having a bad stomach day! Don't hate me!!!

[Alicia Westra]

Love this! I think I'll leave it up on my computer to read daily.

[Erin Sanderson]

mmmmK just what I needed to hear :) Thanks! That family is too adorable! I too LOVE the one where the little is being tickled... that smirk on her face is just too much cuteness :)

[Breeanna]

I struggle with being confident and I look at people who are and think, "Why can't I be like that." I don't think I really try though. Thanks for the inspirational talk about making me think about what's important to me :)

[Summer]

love this post. just the little reminder I needed today to believe in myself.

[plumbing]

Aww. You all look good together. You looks so happy and very tight to each other. If every family looks like you, the world will be a better place to live.