What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?

We asked folks a question that led to many surprising answers – some sad, some thought-provoking and some funny. We’ve highlighted a cross section of those responses below.

Kashish Khanna

As a child, I believed that in order to be loved and accepted, I had to keep my feelings hidden and always appear ‘okay.’ Like so many children, I thought showing sadness, anger, or anxiety made me weak or unworthy. For years I carried that silent struggle inside, constantly pretending everything was fine. Read more>>

Emily Dunlop

I used to think I was going to be an Oscar winning actress destined for fame and glory with a career to rival Meryl Streep’s. Now I’m just out here tryna book a one-liner in a Tyler Perry film (Mr. Perry I love you!). Read more>>

Slater Colt

Oh wow, coming in with the deep questions! As a child I most frequently thought that I was incapable of greatness. I thought some people were just born with it, and the rest had to figure out how to survive or escape the mundane. As I grew older life let me experience other truths that I now hold firm within me. Read more>>

Joey Wallace

Nothing too wild, I think—just the usual stuff: Santa, mermaids, moon landings… haha, just kidding! Like most kids, I always dreamed of doing something big and helping people—superhero style. Read more>>

Keisha Spencer

When I was a child, I used to believe that success was something reserved for people who already came from money. In my mind, wealth created opportunities, connections, and resources that the average person just couldn’t access. But as I grew older and gained more life experience, I realized that while money can open doors, it’s not the only key. Read more>>