This picture isn't really very pretty - but it is real - I took it one afternoon on my way back from shipping some orders for A Girl's Gotta Spa! What do you see when you look at it? I mean really look at it. Aside from it not being not very Pinteresty or Instagram-worthy, of course.

Positive Thinking is a weekly series of inspirational articles to empower and encourage you.

Too tall, too short, too skinny, too heavy, too smart, not smart enough... quiet the conversations that do battle in your head. When can we look at and within ourselves and be satisfied? Now, don't get me wrong, I am all on board for growth, that's always a positive, but we don't need to beat ourselves up verbally to grow. Do we? How many times have you had someone retake pictures of you because you weren't happy with how you looked? How many times have you stopped yourself from applying for that job you're a perfect fit for, out of fear that the interviewer won't think you're so perfect after all? How often have you told yourself that you're just not loveable? I have. I've done all of those things. But if it were a good friend talking negatively about themselves? We'd interject and lift them up and encourage them. We'd tell them all of the reasons they are wrong to think that way. So why don't we befriend ourselves? Starting today I want to to find something about yourself that you are proud of and flaunt it because you're perfect just the way you are.  Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Or check out our natural bath and body line!

Positive Thinking is a weekly series of inspirational articles to empower and encourage you.

In the summer of 2018 I turned 44. I always hear people complain about getting older, but I like to look at how far I've come. OK, OK, I may sometimes throw out a comment here or there about feeling old and falling apart, but for the most part, my birthday is my "new year" and when I reflect on the past, present and future. In this photo, I am almost 4 years old. It was my very first recital and I would be going out on stage dancing to "Me and my Teddy Bear." As much as any Leo loves the spotlight, I was scared. What if I forget the steps? What if I mess up the tempo? What if everyone laughs at me? Much like when I first stepped out on stage that day, deciding to expand my beauty blog into a bath and body line several years ago, was scary. What if no one buys my products? What if I make our family go broke? What if I am a complete and total failure? But I faced my fears. I pushed through. Deciding to take a leap and step out in faith is hard. Like, really, really hard. Your mind will play tricks on you and fill you with fear. It'll create every what-if scenario. It'll even take something positive and try to find the negative. You'll also encounter people who seem to only reconfirm those thoughts and scare you more. This happened to me when "friends" would privately message me to say, "So many beauty brands fail in the first few years," and "I hate to say this, but you really aren't going to make it," and "I don't like how you chose to start your company and I will never support you or buy from you." All of the above were real things said to me. I would sit here and silently cry at my desk...and sometimes sob to my husband. Maybe I'm not smart enough? I mean, I've never done something like this before. Maybe I'm naive in thinking I can be successful. Every fearful thought multiplied in my head as more people offered their opinions. And we all know the saying about opinions. ;) Eventually I looked in the mirror and realized that I was allowing fear to hold me back. That's when I decided I would push forward and give it my best shot and here I am, still going strong. I'm telling you all of this because each day is an opportunity to face something you are afraid of and grow from it. Is today the day you need to look in the mirror and tell fear you won't be held back any longer? Is today the day you will step out in faith and believe in yourself? One day you'll look back and be thankful you did. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Or check out our natural bath and body line!