To you in your 20s who lack confidence. What I, in my 30s, want to tell you honestly.

“I’m working hard, but I just can’t gain confidence.”

To those of you in your 20s who feel this way, today I want to share the reality of my 30s.

How I built confidence in my 20s

Looking back, I think your 20s are a time when it’s easy to build confidence.

If I got sales results, I was evaluated, recognized, and told, “You’re always number one.” I had unlimited time for myself, I could work from morning till night, I could be active on weekends, and the results just kept coming.

Also, my weight would drop right off if I just slept a little and exercised.
I even had a six-pack (laughs).

Results, appearance, community. In your 20s, there are many things you can control yourself, and that directly becomes your confidence.

What changed when I hit my 30s

I gained 23 kilograms during pregnancy, and my waist reached 103 centimeters.

Now that my son is four, my weight still doesn’t come off easily.

You can’t choose the moms you meet at daycare.

Community, time, body shape—things I could control as a matter of course in my 20s are becoming harder to control little by little.

So, to be honest,your 30s are also a time when it’s harder to build confidence.

What I do to maintain confidence despite that

I stopped seeking perfection entirely.

I tell myself “well done” for the small things I managed to do. That is all I keep doing.

Also, I don’t treat myself poorly.

Going to an eyebrow salon,
getting my nails done

They might seem like trivial things, but the feeling of “treating myself properly” gradually leads to self-esteem.

My morning makeup takes less than five minutes, but I do my eyebrows and eyelashes with care.

Just by doing that, the way you look in photos and the impression your face gives will change completely.

And once a week, I take time to ask myself a question.

If there were no restrictions at all, what state would I be in to be happy?

By repeating this question, the times I felt shaken by comparing myself to others have gradually decreased.

Your 20s are the time when you have the most control.

When you reach your 30s, the number of communities you cannot choose increases. Essential routines increase. The time you can use freely decreases.

That is precisely why your time right now is truly precious.

If you feel like you cannot gain confidence, I think that is proof that there are still many things you can control yourself.

Your time, money, and body are easiest to manage right now.

Please acknowledge yourself for your hard work more. Before being recognized by someone else, you are allowed to praise yourself first.

I want you to make this moment one that your future self will be glad you worked hard for.

Please send your concerns to the anonymous box in the description. I am waiting for your words.