On the surface, you may seem fine. But deep down, you know you’re struggling. Aside from staying in the closet for too long – with cobwebs and all – you also battle with your demons. Thoughts that haunt you every time you let your guard down. Emotions that strip you off the mask that you’ve put up to be accepted by society. And fears that you’ve been trying to keep at bay all this time.
It’s tough to wrestle with society’s expectations and other people’s take on sexuality. While some are genuinely open about it – and even if you know that they will love you nonetheless – for some reason, you still feel obligated to keep it from your loved ones.
By doing so, you find yourself questioning your self-worth. Am I worth loving? Will they accept me for who I am? How will this impact my family? My career? My life? And then begin the long and seemingly endless loop of self-doubt and self-criticism.
As they say, we are our worst critics. Whether you admit it or not, you often judge your setbacks much more harshly than others. You always doubt your capacity to achieve great things just because you feel different from the rest. In this digital age, you even source validation in the likes and reactions you receive from your social media posts and stories. Most commonly happening, you end up comparing yourself with the achievements of others – how far they have gone and how you remained anchored in the corner with your insecurities.
As basic as it seems, treating yourself kindly and understanding the emotions that you feel is not easy. Coming to terms with your identity is a constant struggle of embracing what makes you feel happy and free versus keeping up with the expectations of society.
Gen-Z Magazine is created for this reason – to provide a safe space and more acceptable platform for all colors, genders, races, and orientations. Because more than anyone else, you deserve a community that will accept you for who you are. There is nothing wrong with you. Like everyone else, you are unique. You are beyond comparison. So, take pride and stop looking down on yourself. Stop questioning your self-worth and your capacity to love and be loved. Never ever believe that you are unworthy of love.
So, the next time you don’t feel great about yourself, here are some fresh takes to remind you that you are valid, you are loved, and you are enough. Repeat: I am valid. I am loved. I am enough.
