You Don’t Have to Try {Free Printable}

Last weekend I was driving my girls home from an activity and the Colbie Caillat Song “You Don't Have to Try” came on the radio. It stopped me cold. I had never heard it before- and the lyrics with their message of telling women that they don't have to try so hard to get other people to like them is powerful. It perfectly conveyed what I want my daughters to embrace- that the most important thing is for them to love themselves, and not change the way they look, how they act, or how they feel inside in order to fit in with a crowd.

Once I was able to stop the tears from streaming I asked my girls if they understood what the song meant and how they felt about the message. And I was so proud to hear them both launch right into a discussion of how they too believe it is important to be who you are and to love yourself. They got the message and believe it with their whole hearts.

But I know that this self-empowered belief becomes harder to hang onto once you enter your middle-school years (which is where my oldest daughter will be heading next year). I know how important “fitting in” becomes, and how much you want those girls you admire to like you. So for now I am going to focus on continuing to build the foundation of positive self-esteem and inner confidence that hopefully will carry my girls through their complicated early-teen years.

I took part of the lyrics to the song and created this printable 8×10 sign that I framed and placed in my girls' room. Please feel free to click on it to open the image in a new window and print it for your own personal use.

And if you haven't heard the song or watched the video- please take a moment and watch it now. It is just such a fantastic message.