20/9/2024 Reflection

Today’s Podcast:

Podcast: Vol. 12 - Talking with Song Jia: Happiness is an Ability, Being a Strong Female Lead is Our Choice

I’ve been sick for the past two days and didn’t update my blog. Initially, I thought about starting with an apology for missing the updates, but then I realised—why should I apologise for being sick? It wasn’t my choice, and I deserve to rest when I need it.

Today, I went to a pre-interview with my business partner. The interviewee was a Chinese girl who owns a flower shop in Holborn. She’s the third person we’ve pre-interviewed, and I was surprised to find that none of them had set up businesses related to their university majors. This girl studied mathematics for her master’s degree but discovered she had a stronger passion for art. After working in a flower shop for several years, she decided to open her own. She’s entirely self-taught and has a natural talent for arranging flowers. It’s inspiring to see someone find their true passion and be brave enough to turn it into a business.

As for the podcast, I listened to it on the tube. The guest was Song Jia, a famous Chinese actress, and the host was a well-known celebrity agent. They’ve been good friends for many years, and what struck me was their shared confidence—a quality many Chinese people, especially women, seem to lack. Song Jia grew up in a family where her parents were very supportive, encouraging her to pursue whatever she wanted. This kind of upbringing is rare in China, but it helped her develop confidence. She embraces every opportunity, believing she deserves what she achieves, and she is comfortable accepting compliments.

The host mentioned that many Chinese girls feel uncomfortable receiving praise, and I realised I’m one of them. I never know what to say when someone compliments me. It’s awkward because I didn’t grow up with praise. My parents, like many Chinese parents, rarely praised me. They would always say they didn’t want me to become arrogant, but that reasoning never made sense to me. I always longed for their approval, yet it never came. Listening to this podcast helped me understand why I lack confidence. It has nothing to do with who I am but rather the environment I grew up in.

But now, I realise I shouldn’t be ashamed of who I am. Learning to accept myself and believe that I deserve good things is the first step toward building my confidence.