I wanted to share a simple exercise I've been doing since my younger days, and it's stuck with me ever since. Stand in front of a mirror and talk to yourself. Have a conversation, build yourself up, whatever feels right, but keep it constructive.

Personally, I started this practice because I didn't always get much support from others, and sometimes faced negativity. I discovered that I possessed the incredible ability to uplift myself. For instance, my gap-toothed smile was a target in grade school, easy for teasing. Yet, in front of the mirror, I didn't notice it as much. I was focused on ways to improve and grow.

This taught me something profound about how others perceive me. If they fixated on the gap, it revealed a shallowness, a lack of interest in the depth of who I am. Over time, I learned to be proud of that gap. It became a unique identifier separating those who valued substance from those who didn't.

So, I encourage you all to try incorporating a similar practice into your lives. Building yourself up internally ensures you're not solely reliant on validation from others. Give it a shot.