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.

Whitney Wagner

When I was a child, I believed that being an artist meant you had to be naturally gifted from the very start, that creativity was something magical you either had or you did not, if you were to truly succeed in it. Read more>>

Marissa Heffernan

When I was younger, everyone said I was shy, so I believed them — but I was just quiet, preferring to read or play by myself instead of joining the fray on the playground. In fact, when I said I wanted to be a journalist, many people tried to dissuade me, thinking I wouldn’t be able to cold call sources or interview strangers. Read more>>

Anna Kathryne

As a child, I used to see my sensitivity as a weakness—something that made me feel different, overly emotional, or too much. Now as an adult, I’ve come to understand that my sensitivity is actually one of my greatest strengths! Read more>>

Madelyn Gobel

As a child I believed I had to be perfect, even though nobody was enforcing that belief I set this expectation for myself. I believed I was meant to make no mistakes and would be furious at myself whenever I did. I’ve learned that mistakes are actually very important! How else would we learn right from wrong without making a few mistakes on the way? Read more>>