Confidence
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary Confidence is defined as, “a feeling of self-assurance arising from one's appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities.”
Confidence is this crazy feeling inside you that helps boost up your spirits from the inside out. I truly believe being confident in yourself can help you get from point A to point B. When you’re stuck on a broken path, lost, confused or have the feelings of hopelessness, your confidence—aka trust within yourself, can help you arise from those situations. For myself, I used to have zero confidence and trust with myself, and it showed. I started isolating myself from others, stopped doing the things I love, and gave up on school. I would stay at home and just sit in my room and think what the hell is wrong with me? I could not control my thoughts inside my head that were negative, mean and cruel towards who I was. I had a total body dsymorphia and could not contain my anger. I would get pissed at myself, leach out, do things I did not like, go to bed, wakeup and repeat the cycle over and over and OVER again. After about a few years of this cycle (2-years to be exact) I called a quits. I was ready to transform my life and gain my confidence back. I started to embrace the little corks and screws in my life, write down quotes, my goals and openly talked to others about my struggles. The feeling(s) of openly talking to someone and their acceptance towards your mishaps can be very ensuring. You start to see that you’re not that bad after all and everyone has complications and struggles in their lives, but it is how they rise above from those struggles and keep pushing to be better then what they used to be.
From my lack of self-confidence and feelings I had throughout my teenage years made me realize if others thought that same way too.
Did they struggle with body issues?
Did they quit at something they once loved because they were scared they actually might be really good at it?
Did they struggle with isolation?
Regret?
Anger?
Lack of self-acceptance? And a matter of fact they did.
I started asking questions and people started responding. I was so obsessed with how do people gain confidence, and what self-trust can do for a person. Everyone’s answers were pretty similar. I would get responses like: “Once I stopped obsessing about my body, giving into the negative thoughts and feelings in my head I discovered a world of possibilities.” “How I saw myself reflected onto my behaviors/actions (eating/drinking habits, anger, isolation, etc.) and once I stopped seeing everything wrong about me and noticing some things I did right, I stopped binge eating, drinking alcohol, smoking etc. My family now loves me and that is all because I started to love myself.”
You see, when you give up hope on yourself, you start to slowly dwindle away, both physically and emotionally. When you let every negative thought that runs through your head go, you can discover a world filled with possibilities. I started my company Amp Up Fitness with a mission to help as many individuals as I can gain the confidence they need so they can take on anything in life. I truly believe when you hold your head up high smile and express gratitude you will discover who you’re. Life is a full-blown journey, but would you rather want to live everyday with the glass half empty or half full?
Just remember, when you fly on an airplane, what is the first thing flight attendants tell you do to if something goes wrong on the plane? Put your oxygen mask on first before your child’s. You see, in order to take care of someone else, you must first take care of yourself.
Accept yourself, and others will accept you more!
Just remember, I am always here to listen and guide you in the right direction of life. I have found living a healthy lifestyle, taking care of who I am and gaining strength both in and out of the gym has shaped me to who I am today. My mother others said, “everything happens for a reason.” And everything ABSOLUTELY does.
Shoot me over an email with any questions you have at haley.ampupfitness@gmail.com. I am here to listen and here to help you fight for something you’re made to do!
