I have always considered myself a pretty confident person. I have felt so sure about my personality, my determination, and my abilities. So its embarrassing to admit, but very real, that the perception I have of my external appearance can override the perception I have of my internal qualities. A lot of it comes from validation. People will tell me that I have a certain feature or a certain aspect of my body that is beautiful and I treasure that validation. I admire myself for having those traits and the second they get tarnished, a pimple on my forehead or a discoloration on my face, I immediately get paranoid. Paranoid that the beauty that others saw in me is dwindling away, and then I won't feel special, I wont feel accepted, I wont feel loved. It's interesting how validation works. When I am at my happiest, serving others and God, and doing what inspires me, the compliments I get are so genuine and so unexpected. They make me feel not only special, but they inspire my ent...