Leslie Sokol

For a long time I struggled with self doubt. I honestly thought that I wasn't as good as anyone else and that everything I thought, was stupid. This kind of thinking is not only harmful to you but it can actually cause your life to become miserable. I thought that I didn't deserve anything good and that led me on a downward path that just kept taking me lower and lower. I ended up marrying a guy that walked all over me and eventually turned violent. I was extremely blessed and was able to get out before the punches were aimed at me. Because I was already thinking so many bad things about myself, I thought that it was normal to hear him say those things to me as well.

I have to admit that even though this was the lowest point of my life, I'm glad it happened and I would do it all over again. I am who I am today because of what I have been through. And I honestly believe that I went through this horrible marriage so that I could help others, so that I could find myself and realize that I deserve so much better and so that I would truly appreciate the love of a good man. For the most part, it's true: if you don't love yourself, no one else can love you.

Anyway, even though I have come a long way and I'm continuing to educate myself on this stuff, I still have some work to do. It takes time and a lot of patience with yourself, buy you too can wake up from a fog and be who it is that you want to be. Confidence is a wonderful thing and everyone deserves to have pleasant thoughts about themselves. If you or someone you know struggles with their confidence, please, please, read this book. I'll be picking this up and re-reading it every time I need some reassurance.… (mais)