Way back, when I was still a little horse, I had some mixed emotions about my appearance. I guess we all have them sometime. I wasn’t happy with the way I looked. I wanted to be someone else –someone more special and important than myself. But through the years, I realized I was so wrong to think bad about myself.

I want to encourage you to teach your little ones the importance of good self-esteem. The simple act of being content with yourself. While growing up, we continuously develop ourselves. We choose our likes, dislikes, values, beliefs, etc. A good self-esteem is a crucial part in building a strong and true character.

As young horses, we spend most of our time learning new stuff. We explore the grown-up-horse-world, trying to make sense of all the ambiguities around us. Take my advice. Try to learn as much as you can while you’re young. Don’t see all your mistakes as failures. Rather look at the mistakes as opportunities to grow into a wiser horse. Surely, I felt extremely embarrassed when I tried to cover my brown spots with the white barn paint. When I look back now, I know that I would do the same thing again. Because the lesson I learned from that event was important. It was a worth a hundred times more than my embarrassment. Do not hesitate to try something new just because you are afraid of failing. Think of the lessons you can learn in the process.

As we grow older, we realize that being unique is special. We should embrace our uniqueness and develop our full potential in our own special way. Trying to be like some other horse will always make you feel discontent with yourself. Use all that energy you have wasted when you tried to be like someone else, and use it to become a better you. Because only you can be you, and there is only one of you!

Confidence starts from deep within your heart. It can’t be built with looks or fame because all of that is time-restricted. They will vanish with the break of dawn. We tend to spend too much time caring about our appearance that we easily lose focus of what is really important. In my younger days, I despised the spots that covered my luscious white coat. I thought if I could only get those spots off, everybody would like me and think I’m beautiful. I learnt the hard way that you can’t change how you look on the outside, but you do have control over the inside. I now know. It doesn’t matter to me if I have spots on my coat or not. I am content with my appearance, but my heart is still under construction.

My goal is to have a heart that always thinks about others before I tend to my own needs. I want to see the beauty in the world around me. Having a good heart is the key to confidence because you know you are doing what is right.

We tend to underestimate the importance of a good self-esteem. It is the only weapon you can give your children to survive in a dangerous world. Always believe in yourself and inspire those around you to do the same!

By Luke