Derek Hough Gives Heartfelt Advice to His Younger Self
Lifestyle September 30, 2022
Derek Hough is reflecting on what he would tell his younger self now that he’s older and wiser.
On Friday’s episode of “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” the “Dancing With the Stars” judge opened up about his career and the stress he is under as a competitive dancer.
“You also have a lot of pressures to be perfect and to always win. How do you handle that?” Jennifer Hudson asked.
In his answer, the choreographer — who notes that “being judged and scrutinized” is part of “being in the competitive world” — recalled his youth, when he often questioned his self-worth.
“At a very young age, I had this belief in myself, which was, ‘Am I enough? Am I good enough?’” he said. “Over time, in order to feel I am enough, I had to achieve something. In order for me to feel that I was worthy, I had to succeed, I had to win. Only then would I feel I was enough.”
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View StoryDespite his accomplishments — including a 2013 Outstanding Choreography Emmy — Derek would “come home [and] still didn’t feel like I was enough.”
“Because what I didn’t really realize at the time was it’s not really about what we achieve in this life that really matters, it’s who we become as a person along the way,” he said.
When he began to declare “you already are enough,” he started to feel fulfilled.
“When you start to realize that you already are enough, you already are. You always have been, and you always will be, no matter what,” he said. “That’s a beautiful place to start from, and I would love to tell little Derek that.”
Derek told Jennifer that he began dancing at age 10 or 11 when his mom “dragged” him to a dance class.
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View Story“I did not want to go,” he revealed, adding that he was “kicking and screaming.”
Though Derek initially thought dance was “for girls,” he soon realized that was an upside!
“Then I walked in, I was like, ‘There’s girls in here!’” he said.
“The Jennifer Hudson Show” airs weekdays. Check your local listings.
