Not a story but a thought. Everyone has insecurities. There are many things that make a person insecure. Fear of being judged. Fear of failure. Fear of not living up to one's full potential. Fear of not meeting one's own personal goals. Etc.
OK, here's a story. I was once insecure about how other people thought of me. I used to be somewhat traditional in my thinking because I grew up with all the traditional mindset teachings about being a good Hmong girl / about being a good Hmong nyab/ about being a good Hmong wife. But a lot of the traditional mindset instilled in us was just a trap to keep us under a certain control, to suppress us so we continue to be submissive and do as we're told, and to stay in our lane as traditional Hmong women. As I grew up, I realized people's opinions do not matter. The people that love me will love me regardless because they know I am a good person and they believe in me. I don't need to care or worry about anyone else because if they judge me then they don't know me or care about me. So why should I care what anyone thinks if they don't love me and if they don't pay my bills. A lot of Hmong women over extend themselves and go above and beyond to maintain an image because they care about their and their family's reputation. Hmong women need to change their paths and ways of thinking. Because being insecure and fearful of what others think of you is such an unnecessary burden, and it's too much of a weight to carry on your shoulders. Just know who you are, believe in yourself, be a good person and help others when you can, and live your best life. Break from and through the traditional mindset barriers that keep us from living an authentic, uninhibited life, that keep us from being who we truly are and being who we are capable of being. No one knows the stress you're under on a daily basis, no one knows how sad you are behind closed doors, how much you have to do but you. Don't let anyone take up space in your mind so much such that you allow them to cripple your personal happpiness and joy. At the end of the day, you answer to yourself. Only care about the people who truly love you and those people's opinions. As long as you are a good person and are not hurting anybody, be happy with yourself. Get rid of unnecessary insecurities and fears, get rid of the traditional mindset that holds you back from living your best life and enjoying your life to the fullest.