Anxiety makes you miss what beauty is right in front of you

By: Arianna Sarmiento

 I wish I could go back in time and tell myself to not worry too much. To stop tucking in your shirt every five minutes or to not suck in every photo, and to never let life slip away because I was so caught up on the way things were “supposed” to appear.

Being a young female is usually equated to existence on a microscope. Every deficit, every deviation, every reason why someone can judge you everything runs round and round inside your head. Did I make a weird remark? Is my chest too flat? Are my eyelashes not long enough? The need to be inherently flawless is exhausting, and it's easy to become so concerned with self-doubt that you lose touch with actually liking the moment.

I remember one summer at the beach when I spent more time adjusting my swimsuit than swimming. My friends were laughing, leaping into the waves, making memories. And me? I was sitting on my towel, arms crossed, stomach in knots, convinced that if I moved the wrong way, everyone would notice the things I hated about myself. In hindsight, I realize how ridiculous it was—nobody even cared. Nobody was analyzing me like I was analyzing myself. But in that moment, I let my insecurity steal away a moment that could have been enjoyable and freeing.

When you waste your time overthinking, you miss the small pleasures in life. You don't dance at the party because you don't want to look silly. You don't put your hand up in class because you don't want to sound stupid. You don't wear the clothes you adore because you're afraid someone will judge you. It's a pattern of holding yourself back, of observing life pass you by rather than being fully present in it.

And the worst part is, years from now, you won't even remember what you were so insecure about. You'll just remember the things you didn't do.

So how do you stop? How do you break free from the weight of self-consciousness? The truth is, it takes time. But the beginning is to know that most people are too busy thinking about themselves to notice the little things you're worrying about. The second step? Do the things that scare you. Wear the dress. Speak out. Have your picture taken. Jump into the waves.

Because the world isn't waiting for you to be ready. It's already moving, and you have a right to be part of it.