For a long time, I have been a highly-sensitive person, let my emotions control me, lacked self-esteem and confidence. I've never had many friends in my life as my socialising skills aren't very high (the causes for them are private, yet genuine and understandable reasons for the way I am). I'm happy to say I have a few, true friends in my life whom I'm very close to.

In the early spring of 2008, during the aftermath of the most INCREDIBLY EMOTIONAL experience I ever had to face, I came away with a huge, definate decision...if I'm going to survive in life and be happy, I NEED to toughen myself up!

Ever since then, I have been making a conscious effort to toughen myself up, both emotionally and physically. I fell in love with self-help books (they're very inspiring), enjoy doing self-hypnosis and have started attending all kinds of activities that allows me to socialise with other people and have began to make some new friends along the way.

To put this all into short....I am toughening myself up and finally taking control of my life.

So far, I have been making wonderful progress as I have already noticed the changes in my life, the way people act towards me and I can even FEEL the changes. Some people I have met along my way towards my new-self have said how much they admire me for my strength and confidence. I no longer feel so scared and needing to run to others for help. Quite the opposite, in fact. I've actually had people coming to ME for advice and help and I've been so proud that I can actually help my friends and other people for a change, as I have shared their experiences.

My family have also noticed my gradual change in the type of music I like to listen to, the movies I like to watch and even my change in thoughts towards certain situations.

Here is what is stopping me from reaching my goal to my new, confident-self.

Like I said before, I have a few, true friends in my life who care about me very much and have been there for me through the good and bad times. However, when they first met me, they got to know and like the OLD me, but what will they think about the new me?

What happens when I finally fulfill my dream, turn my life around and become the tougher, more confident person I've always wanted to be, only for my friends to not like the new me and leave me?

I want to fulfill my wish to become a stronger, more confident person, but I don't want to lose my friends.

How do you choose between your friends and yourself?

Thank you.