Many coaches, personal trainers, and fitness professionals will agree that one of the biggest obstacles in achieving goals is a persons self image. Often, individuals compare themselves to others and in return devalue their own effort, relationships and appearance. There are many things coaches can do to influence and encourage clients and athletes, but there are also things people can do on their own. Truthfully, self image is "your image of yourself." With that being said, developing a positive self image can be hard with the stampede of negative and inappropriate messages that you can't always control. Television, internet, and social media are filled with images of "pretty" people, students are corrected all day at school, our music presents to us the death of a gentlman and a lady, and parents belittle themselves in front of their children. (ie. saying "I look fat" in front of your 9, 12, or 16 yr old daughter is as detrimental to her self image as it is yours.)
How do we combat issues of self image? This will be a discussion that will go on for ages as will the actual internal battle for yourself. Let's take a look at two points for this discussion: input and effort.
Input:
"What goes in, will ultimately come out." If there is an understanding that what passively enters our awareness is greatly negative, then there should be positive and uplifting information that intentionally enters our awareness. Put yourself around people who respectfully, "Keep it real." When they mention improvement, it's for your benefit and not because you don't match up to the next. When you do well, they encourage you to continue doing well. Among the music that you listen to, find something that uplifts you. Read information that is educational and encouraging.
Effort:
Appearnce can be more about the effort we put into ourselves than the actual look itself. People put effort into the things they care about, and care about the things they put effort into. Our appearance and our health are among these. Sometimes it does a person well, to put effort into themselves when they feel just the opposite. It's hard to feel yourself into an action, but more feasible to act yourself into a feeling. Have you ever said to yourself, "I didn't feel like doing it, but I'm glad I did." Despite feeling one way, following through on action can provide a bit of accomplishment. Accomplishment helps improve image of self.
Psalm 139:14
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
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