Building Confidence

When taking on anything new, there is usually a level of uncertainty and lack of confidence. It is a sign we are stepping out of our comfort zones. For some people this will be too daunting, and therefore, they stay stuck in their own comfort zone because it is too uncertain, they are too fearful, they lack confidence.

I recently joined a gym and began going to some fabulous exercise classes offered there.. I have never been an exerciser! As in many spots where you are following an instructor, there are mirrors all around the room......I had no idea why they would put mirrors up all over so you could see how out of shape you were no matter what direction you were pointing! I have learned is so that as you turn in different positions of exercise, you can still see the instructor without turning your head. It is extremely helpful! However, when I started at the gym, I was like most new folks and didn't yet know all the movements that were being done, so when the group was moving in one direction I was moving in the other direction.....I just didn't have the "beat" of the movements yet. I found myself looking in all the mirrors at how clumsy I was looking compared to the rest of the group. My confidence was not yet there and I definitely felt clumsy and was very aware of my "newness".

This is comparable to many things in our life that we take on and are new at...a new job, a new business, a new relationship, a new hobby....the list goes on. So often, this is a transition that is uncomfortable for people....and they quit before they ever get off the ground.

As I kept going back to the classes at the gym, I noticed something really interesting....each class I was getting less clumsy and was gaining more strength and was actually getting a bit better at the movements each class. I was focused on the enjoyment and the progress and last week as I sat in the sauna afterwards, I was reflecting on the progress I had made over the last 6 weeks and realized something really important. I hadn't looked in those mirrors to look at myself since probably the 2nd week....why is that important? I realized that at the beginning I was so focused on all the things I was doing wrong and wondering how clumsy I looked, how out of shape I was, and was anyone else noticing it? Because I pushed through this time frame of learning, I got into flow, and was just totally enjoying the experience and the feeling of success I was experiencing from the exercise. I was using the mirrors to simply follow the instructor and didn't care what I looked like and actually don't even know what I look like in the movements because I haven't been focused on that.

It is like putting a magnifying glass on ourselves when we start something new....initially we don't have confidence, we feel like we are making mistakes, and we are self conscious about looking inadequate. But, when we push through these feelings and keep focused on the goal, all of a sudden you will come to the realization that wow, you have actually become confident, and proficient in what you are doing. That builds your self esteem and your confidence and that is when the activity actually becomes fun and almost effortless.

I have become addicted to the gym...it is amazing how much you learn from physical activity that leads to breakthroughs in other areas of your life as well.

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917