Hey there. There are moments when I walk into a room and immediately start wondering if I really belong there. Maybe you’ve felt that too. You see the people around you who seem polished, confident, and in complete control, and you start questioning yourself. But here’s the truth that I’ve learned over time. The person with the perfect outfit, the big job title, or the impressive resume is often fighting the same feelings of insecurity you are.
This isn’t about faking it until you make it. It’s about choosing confidence. Confidence is not something you wait to have once you’ve reached a certain milestone. It’s something you decide to embody right now. Because if you’re in the room, if you’re in the conversation, if you’re taking the step forward, you already belong. Nobody gets to decide that for you but you.
What I’ve realized is that when we let others define our worth, we shrink back. We play smaller than we are capable of. We talk ourselves out of opportunities and connections that could change the course of our lives. And all of that is based on assumptions about what other people think. The reality is that most people are too caught up in their own insecurities to spend much time picking apart yours.
The choice to belong comes from the inside/out. It’s about shifting your perspective from “Do they think I’m good enough” to “I know I’m good enough and I’m going to show up that way.” It’s not arrogance. It’s not pretending to have it all together. It’s about recognizing that every single person in that room has doubts, fears, and flaws. The difference between those who move forward and those who hold themselves back is not the absence of fear, it’s the decision to carry confidence anyway.
If you’ve been on a weight loss journey for years, you know this feeling well. You might have walked into a gym and felt like everyone was staring. Or joined a group where you felt out of place because you didn’t look like you thought you should. But the truth is, you deserve to be there just as much as anyone else. Your story, your effort, your willingness to keep showing up is what earns you a seat.
So the next time you start to shrink back, remind yourself that belonging is not handed out by someone else. It’s a choice you make. And when you choose confidence, you not only take up the space you deserve, you inspire others to do the same.
If you’re ready to take the next step in building that confidence and living from the inside/out, I’d love for you to join The YLF Experience.