Courage

When we are little, it is easy to be ourselves because we don't know any better. Then we spend time watching other people and listening to them criticize each other and point out differences and somewhere along the way we start to lose ourselves. We push the unique characteristics that make us who we are out so that the accepted version can shine through. It is a carnival game though, meaning that most of us will not win a stuffed animal or even a goldfish. It takes courage to be true to who you are, but the payoff is worth it in the end. 
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Choose courage, don't be complacent. Being courageous means being afraid and acting anyway. Don't let your fear keep you from acting, do it anyway. The great thing is, courage is like a muscle, and the more you use it, the stronger it is and the easier it becomes to enact. 

Attend to positive signals and discount negative ones. We tend to pay more attention to disapproval and rejection rather than compliments and acceptance. Learn how to respond to compliments with a simple thank you rather than down playing them. Appreciate what you have to offer the world, and the world will acknowledge you back. Outside the sun is shining and the skies are blue so dare to open the door and take it all in!