Fitness Builds Self-Esteem

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

13 Jun 2008 03:51 AM

Low self esteem is a problem that men and women alike struggle with throughout their lives. Many of us are confident kids, but somewhere around puberty, our confidence begins to waver and self-doubt creeps in. Self esteem can take a few body blows as a result of social interactions, personal body image and more. The major problem with low self esteem is that it can impact your quality of life from relationships to school and work performance.

Coping with Low Self Esteem

President Roosevelt stated during his first inaugural address, "So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself-nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."

Everyone feels fear and doubt. Everyone feels it. I feel it. You feel it. The most confident people you know feel it. It's how we cope with those feelings and overcome them that helps us to build our self esteem and not become a victim to it.

Fitness Improves Self Esteem

No, fitness isn't a handy little pill prescribed by a treating physician, but it does do a lot of wonderful things for people of all shapes and sizes. I have often stated that fitness is not just about physical wellness but about the wellness of the entire person: mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. These are the components that we need to measure our health. So if you want to improve yourself personally by improving your self-image:

• Take the time to care about your appearance. You are valuable and you are beautiful. I knew a woman for many years who was overweight and far from the 'idealized' size 2, yet she was gorgeous and she presented herself well and was always well groomed, dressed well and carried herself in a manner that said she was beautiful and she was
• Take time for the inner you. The inner you is as valuable as the outer you. Meditation, prayer and reflection provide you with welcome inner respite from the outside world. It lets you be in touch with what matters to you. It lets you like and love yourself. Because if you don't like yourself, if you don't love yourself? How can others see that inner beauty? It's also through this manner that we develop self-confidence and a deep belief in ourselves
• Be you, not someone else. You're not Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt or Kate Hudson or any other person. You're you. Be you. Be proud of you. We make the mistake of trying to look and be like others far too much and this leads to disappointment and struggling. You can admire their techniques, their goal setting or their ability to go after what they want. You can take inspiration from it. You can motivate yourself the same way if it works for you, but just be you.
• Keep a running list of all the things you do right. We automatically catalog our negative attributes and our bad choices. We just do it and we shouldn't, but we do. So consciously keep the good list, the list that says I worked out today, I ate fruit, I bought myself a gorgeous blouse, I made my daughter laugh. Keep that list to remind yourself of all the wonderful things you do and you do well.

What do you do?

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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