Self Esteem Through Exercise

Building Self- Esteem :
The quest for increased self-esteem is an ongoing journey and one that can be  a painful struggle for many people. Many of us are continually trying to make sense of our lives by searching for our unique place in the world. The more we work towards finding out who we are, the better we feel about ourselves, and the more we are able to grow and share with others.

What is Self - Esteem ?
The way in which we see ourselves, our perception of how we look, and feel as well as who we believe we are, forms our self-image. Our reactions to these real or perceived images make up our self-esteem.

Self-esteem is all about how much value we place upon ourselves, our lives, our skills, and our ability to function, cope, love, and be loved. It is about how much  respect we have for ourselves and others. The process of gaining and maintaining self-esteem is continuous and can fluctuate day to day.

Self-Esteem through exercise:
There are many ways to enhance self-esteem through physical activity. The key is to understand that FITNESS and WELLNESS are lifelong processes,  they represent  continuums not endpoints.

The healthiest environment and mind-set encourages your individual fitness improvement rather than comparing  yourself  to others. Focusing and working on your PERSONAL improvement rather than comparing yourself to others will go a long way toward strengthening your self-esteem.
Choose activities that make you feel strong, successful, and encouraged!
Such as : Running or strength training. Activities that you can see yourself improve at ( becoming faster or stronger).
Educate yourself about the role exercise plays in your own wellness : physically, mentally, and emotionally. Know that the benefits of exercise go beyond weight loss.
* decreases depression
* increases feelings of empowerment, strength, and well-being
* improves sleep
* decreases feelings of anger
* increases endorphins
It is important to remember that we do have the ability to change ourselves, to redefine who we are - no matter what major trauma we have been through. When we acknowledge that we can take concrete steps to feel better about ourselves, we not only begin to increase our own self-esteem, but we also help to raise the self-esteem of those around us by giving them hope.