We see ads about being beautiful all the time. Social media platforms hammer traditional stereotypes about beauty: slim waist, muscular bodies, flawless skin- all the usual stuff. But is that really what’s beautiful? Or is it just society that tells us to think that it’s beautiful?
Confidence is Being Comfortable in Your Own Shoes
Confidence is the key to true beauty. Regardless of physical appearance, weight, or social standing, anyone can be beautiful if they exude confidence and charisma. But that in itself is difficult- so how can you be ‘confident’? Being confident lies in being comfortable in what you truly are, everything considered and taken into account. It’s about you accepting who you are.
Even if you need Social Security disability benefits, you’re still very much valid as a person, even if you think you’re too short or too tall, that doesn’t say anything about the real you- if you accept yourself for who you are, you’ll begin to carry yourself with pride and confidence.
How Fitness Can Help You
Now that we’ve talked about how accepting yourself leads to confidence, there is still the matter of coming to terms with you as of now. You may be in a situation where you don’t like something specific about yourself, and can’t come to terms with it. Take your time, it’s always an uphill battle but what’s important is that you never give up.
However, there is something that can help you feel better about yourself, and improve both your physical and mental health too and fitness. While getting into fitness can be anxiety-inducing or overwhelming if you keep in mind that you’re not doing it for the goal, but as a step toward the right direction, you’ll soon find yourself enjoying and improving. Fitness can aid you in coming to terms with your own body as it will teach you about the extent of your physical abilities. It boosts your confidence by telling you what you can do and showing you how you’re improving.
If you’re thinking of getting into fitness to help you with your self-confidence, here are some exercises you can get into:
Running
Almost everyone has considered jogging for fitness at some point in their life, and it’s not a bad idea. It’s a relatively easy exercise to get into, and there’s practically no equipment involved beyond the typical running shoes. It makes for a great introduction to fitness, and you can meet people with similar goals and interests. Having someone to exercise with is one way of improving your chances at fitness, and socialization can help you boost your confidence.
Dancing
We agree- it takes guts to start dancing. But it’s the leap that matters here, and deciding to start is a large part of the battle. Dancing is a great way to exercise your whole body, and it helps you improve both your posture and flexibility. But perhaps the biggest benefit to dancing is how it trains you to be more confident in yourself. Dance classes with people of the same level are a great way to get started as you will be improving with a group that you can be friends with, cheering on each other, and expressing yourself in an accepting environment.
Strength Training
The world of fitness, especially strength training, can be intimidating, muscles and heavy barbells often litter ads about workouts and exercises. And yes, it is scary but underneath the daunting exterior of strength training lies a hobby that can do leaps in bounds in improving your overall well-being. Strength training is a great way to control your weight, and it develops your body better than any other exercise.
The strength progression you’ll experience in strength training is also a great way to motivate yourself and boost your self-confidence. It’s can be scary at the start, but once you’ve started, you’ll understand why people love it.
Kickboxing
No, we’re not telling you to join kickboxing classes for competition (unless you really want to), we’re simply saying to consider kickboxing for fitness. It’s a whole-body exercise that trains flexibility, cardio, and mobility. And the very physical nature of kickboxing also makes for a great stress reliever. But the cherry on top is that learning about martial arts does a great deal in improving self-confidence.
You will be forced to admit your weaknesses in this field, but that weakness then becomes your target. As it is now, kickboxing for fitness is an accessible exercise, and it might be worth checking out if there’s an available class near you.
