It took a lot of guts to change it and say 'I don't like…
“It took a lot of guts to change it and say 'I don't like the life that I'm living and I don't like the swimmer I am', so let's change it completely and say 'Look, I've got to learn to love myself'. And that's been a really hard thing to do because when you've done a performance that you're not proud of and the public and the media have criticized you…people are really quick to make judgements so it was tough to say 'Well I don't care what you have to say. I'm going to do this for myself and if you don't like me after this, well then, it's too bad'.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Loving oneself demands confronting criticism, rejecting external judgments, and committing to self‑compassion despite public scrutiny.
In simple terms: Self‑love needs courage.
Prioritize self‑compassion.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- public speaking
- performance arts
- social media presence
- personal setbacks
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you silence critics?
- What steps help you nurture self‑respect?
External opinions can still affect confidence.