Tell me I'm handsome,
tell me I'm smart,
tell me I can do and become
    whatever I want,

and when I encounter failure,
when I make mistakes,
when I face reality,

I will doubt myself,
wonder what's wrong with me,
realize I can't possibly be
    as handsome, smart and competent
as you said.

Either you were horribly wrong,
or I've screwed it all up.

Tell me to enjoy the challenges,
to be intrigued by my mistakes,
to love making the effort,
to continue learning
    no matter what happens,
and you've given me the tools
to love life
and myself.

The illusion that I'm all that
destroys.
The desire to keep trying
empowers.

Text and image © 2015 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.