Self Consciousness

I remember when I was young,
I didn't have a care in the world.
It was great being so innocent,
so unafraid.

It started when I wasn't too old,
a cage began to form.
It's invisible bars growing,
until I was trapped in a prison that was my mind.

If I wear this, what will people think?
If I say this, will I look dumb?
I want to go and try a lot of things,
but my prison holds me back.

Sometimes I feel I've escaped my prison,
and I grin and run ahead,
but I find I'm just on a leash.
I get snapped back and it hurts.

I just want to be confident,
so say what's on my mind,
to do what I want to do,
but my own mind tells me not to.