If you have ever met a dog, you know that they don’t struggle with self-image. They know what they want – to lick your face – and they go for it with every fiber of their body. Nothing can stand in the way of a dog when they want to get to know you by tasting the inside of your nose. Dogs are confident as hell, even when they have no reason to be, and that’s one of the reasons humans love them so much. They have the natural swagger and happiness that we wish we had. There’s a lot we can learn from our furry friends about how we approach life.
You are a beautiful person with a rich life story. It might not always feel like it, especially when things get tough, but you have a lot to be proud of. You deserve to celebrate your wins and look forward to your future. You deserve to smile and laugh often. You deserve self-confidence, and you can have it if you put in a little work.
What does it mean to be confident? Confidence is:
- Not being afraid to get to know yourself
- Accepting who you are right now, even the rough edges
- Being unapologetically you, all the time
- Pushing yourself to become who you want to be, and owning up to your mistakes
- Acknowledging the difficult steps you need to take in your journey to happiness
Something amazing happens when we lean into and commit to sitting with the parts of ourselves that we don’t fully understand. We feel stronger and more secure in who we are. We realize our true power – not just the power to do amazing things for ourselves and others but also the strength to handle any obstacle that comes along.
You don’t have to be perfect or even close to love yourself. You don’t need flawless skin or six-pack abs to be sexy. You just have to seek out what you love about yourself and nourish it every single day, especially on the days when you’re struggling with your own demons or doubting how much worth you really carry in this world.
You are a work of art – an original masterpiece constantly evolving over time, as we all do. You were made to be alive and feel. So be brave and embrace yourself: you are worthy of all the love in this world. Watch as your insecurities melt away and rush over you in a wave of empowering confidence. Confidence is freedom from the chains you placed on yourself that are holding you back from greatness.
A lot of people find confidence to be a major turn-on. Confident people seem to know what they want and they aren’t afraid to go after it. They assert power and knowledge and are usually pretty positive people. They also don’t mind showing their partners what they want in bed, which is a win-win for everyone.
To be confident in bed, you have to really know what you want, but you also have to know what you’re working with. Introspection can help you figure out what turns you on, but you can only do so much on your own. Before you take command in bed, you need to take control of your health. That means getting tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted illnesses (sometimes called STIs or STDs), like chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and hepatitis.
You might think that you don’t need to get tested. If you’re having sex and aren’t getting tested, you need it. Many sexually transmitted infections don’t show symptoms for a long time. Anyone, including you, can get HIV or other STIs and share them with partners before realizing you’ve even been infected. That’s why you should get tested at least once per year. Knowing your status fills in the blanks and makes it possible for you to be completely confident in bed.
Even if you find out that you have HIV or an STI, that’s not going to stop you from having sex. You have plenty of options. Many of the most common sexually transmitted infections are quickly cured with antibiotics or antiviral medications. Those that can’t be cured are treated to manage your symptoms and prevent your ability to transmit to your sexual partners.
Just like every other step of being the most confident version of yourself, knowing your status is a personal journey. That’s why HIV and STI testing is completely confidential and free for most people. No one needs to know that you’re getting tested, except you and your doctor.
You can find your confidence by making an effort each day to love yourself as much as possible. Confidence will give you freedom from insecurity, which can mean better sex and happier life. By taking steps to become more confident, you are taking control of the parts of your life that scare you and putting yourself first. Whether in the doctor’s office or in bed, confidence gives you the power to become the best version of yourself.
