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Have you met Gwen Bell?
Online or in person?
Because if you’ve met her in person, then you’ve experienced her powerful, positive energy. Gwen Bell is the perfect example of positive self confidence.
She’s not snooty and stuck on herself, she’s confident in a good way. You want to be around her and you feel good about yourself when you’re with her.
At the BowlHer party during BlogHer 09, I stole Gwen from the dance floor to ask her how she developed such confidence.
In the video below Gwen shares how she became the confident woman we know today and how we can help our own teenage daughters develop a similar self confidence.
It’s your turn…
Tell us about you… would you describe yourself as having good self confidence or not?
As a teenager, were you secure and confident?
How have you changed over time?
Follow Gwen Everywhere
If you’re not yet following Gwen throughout cyberspace, start now:
Website: GwenBell.com
Twitter: @GwenBell
And she’s on Flickr, Facebook, Delicious and Vimeo.
Thank you Gwen for sharing your positivity with us!
Thanks to our Sponsors
We again thank Kmart Design for sponsoring these video interviews so that we can bring the BlogHer 09 experience home to you.
I think Kmart is an especially fitting sponsor for this particular video since we’re talking about self confidence and how we dress and our style is directly related to our confidence. To feel our best, we do want to look our best and we are proud to be supported by a store that makes it possible for everyone (especially women and teenage girls) to dress in style.
Written by Susan, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom.
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Stephanie says
HI Susan! You are totally cute on-camera. I admire the energy and positivity that you exude on tape.
Also: I definitely agree with you that Gwen could be a super model. She has “the look,” but she also has the confidence. I hope to meet her someday!
Priscilla-wheelchair Mommy says
This is my first time “meeting” Gwen so “hi”.
I think I do have confidence. FAR more than I did in high SChool. I was one of those kids that just blended in. I was on the honor roll but didn’t have anywhere near a 4.0. I never played sports…wasn’t a cheerleader. I just went to class and did my work.
Shortly after my life changed drastically and I was paralyzed. I could no longer blend in. I stuck out (and still do) EVERYWHERE I go. I still wanted all the same things I did before (family and kids) so I knew I was going to have to take the new wheelchair me and learn to live with it happily.
I’m not a stuck up person so I do still blush when people tell me I am inspiring or brave or whatever they tell me. To me I am just a mom doing what EVERY other mom does but in a WHeelchair. I won’t lie .. It does make me feel good and gives me more confidence to know that I am doing a great job.
Michelle says
A great interview. That is my biggest fear is my daughter growing up with low self confidence. (Well, one of my fears!) Gwen adds so much to the community, and her confidence and presence are wonderfully inspiring.
Susan and Janice – you both offer the same. Your confidence speaks through everything you do. 🙂
Zarita says
Thank you for the encouragement Gwen, absolutely right about self respect. Self respect leads to self confidence, I agree to that.
Susan says
Wow Gwen, thank you! What a fantastic compliment. I will take that to heart.
And thank you for interviewing with us and for sharing your incredible insights.
Organizing Mommy says
Thanks for that. It was very encouraging. Lately I’ve been thinking about the same things: confidence. Just this morning I was musing on the potential title for a book: God’s confident Woman. I find it interesting that you just posted this interview with Gwen on this topic right after I had spent some time with the Lord talking about these same things from a Christian perspective. I’m not sure where I’ll go with this idea, since right now, it is only an idea. I will say this: I was a confident teenager. I have largely my mother to thank, but I had to make some hard and courageous decisions that made me stronger: not drinking, not having sex before marriage, doing well in school, etc. This was all before I had a serious relationship with the Lord. Anyway, thanks for the thought-provoking/ confirmation to follow these thoughts to the next level.
Gwen Bell says
Susan, one reason I love interviewing with you and Janice is that you two absolutely inhabit the space you’re in. I love watching you all work! And you two, plus Joe and Erica, made a terrific team at BlogHer this year. I look forward to our next interview together!
Rebecca is Thrilled by the Thought says
I thought I had confidence in high school, but now I see that I really was just trying to fit in. I wish I could go back as the person I am now! But without those experiences, I guess I wouldn’t be the person I am now…
Susan says
Yes, she is certainly the life of the party, isn’t she? I remember her dancing her Francie Pants bottom off at Mom 2.0. LOL
Erica says
I love Gwen. The first time I really met her was at the party at Mom 2.0..she was rocking out with her Francie Pants…and I swear she was just the picture of confidence and fun! She is someone that you love to be around, because she makes you feel happy and good about yourself.