How Fitness Makes You Confident

If you're human, you've probably experienced those moments that make you question yourself. They're different (and difficult) for everyone, but that feeling...that lack of confidence...is common. Incredibly common, unfortunately. But there are so many ways to gain confidence that a published list could be a thousand blog posts long. So today, I'll focus on one of the ways you can gain confidence. You guessed it: Fitness.

Because it's true.
Fitness can totally make you confident.

I know what you're thinking: "Well, duh. Way to be obvious. Fitness tones my muscles, makes me healthy and sends feel-good endorphins from head to toe. All of which translates to confidence."

Yes, that's all true. And you've heard it a million times before. But what about the not-so-obvious ways that fitness makes you confident?

1) Fitness teaches you how to set achievable goals.
Nothing boosts confidence more than a goal that's been achieved. Because when you do something successfully, it's an achievement that doesn't go away. Even if you take steps backward, you can always stop and think "yes...I absolutely can because I did it before." That's you being confident in yourself. That's you believing that you have what it takes to rise above the challenges before you.

2) Fitness teaches you how to be honest with yourself.
Honesty is always the best policy. Whether you're upping reps or adding miles, admitting that you actually want to...that you're ready for the challenge...is you believing in yourself. It's you finding comfort beyond your comfort zone. It's you admitting to the reality of the situation, and with admittance comes a ton of acceptance because nothing hidden is haunting you.

3) Fitness gives you the power to rise above negativity.
Confidence is the polar opposite of negativity. When you choose to be confident about your health and fitness goals, when you take that positive step toward achieving them, that's you rising above the negativity. And by doing so, you're teaching yourself that there's no need for negative naysayers in or outside of your head. Which, in turn, helps you lift YOUR head a little higher (and learn from the negativity, too).

4) Fitness gives you the power to move mountains.
OK, maybe not literally. But fitness can and ultimately will increase your physical strength. And when you actually feel yourself doing things with greater power, it's a boost to the esteem that will propel you to move more efficiently through your days and nights.

5) Fitness shows you the best version of you. 
Physically, yes. It changes your body for the better. And the more comfortable you are in your own skin, the more comfortable you are in your own mind—this is what really counts. When you are comfortable being the best version of yourself, that's you being confident.

Everyone's fitness journey is different, this is true. But one thing is for sure: Steps big and small both in and out of the gym change us for the better. They lift us, carry us and propel us forward.

So harness the power of fitness.
Let it change you.

Let it make you confident.

Visit #thefitdish link-up to see what my peers are saying about confidence.

Question: How does fitness make you feel more confident?