Rock Confidence

No food this week, but a little about something I think impacts us as we try to make changes for a healthier lifestyle and body...confidence.

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27

 “I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:13-14

Do you remember “What Not to Wear”?  I think they still make new episodes, but I remember watching it back in high school.  The TV show helps a nominated ‘poorly dressed’ person find a whole new wardrobe that expresses that person’s personality and flatters their unique body shape and lifestyle.  Stacy and Clinton would so often fuss at this person about wearing clothes that didn’t fit their body as it is in the present.  So many people either tried to get into clothing that was too small (those they wanted to get into) or too big (when they’d given up and decided just to make their body shape unrecognizable).  The prevailing theme of the end of each episode…a person in the exact same body as at the start of the week, but with a new comfort and confidence, not just in their new clothes, but their own skin.   All from a new set of clothes?

There is something about putting yourself together.  When you feel confident in who you are and how you look, you walk with a different confidence.  When I give a presentation, I like to put a little extra attention into how I look (maybe wear my hair down, pay extra attention to my outfit, or wear heels).  I feel especially put together and confident walking out of the door and thus have a nudge of extra confidence while speaking in front of a crowd.  That’s just one example.  I considered this concept after it was mentioned on two separate occasions with friends this week.

One friend, when complimented on her outfit and asked about the change in her wardrobe, simply answered, “I’m trying. [Why?] I feel better.”  She could tell a difference in how she carried herself just because she put an extra thought into her appearance.  The other was a friend at the gym.  We were discussing workout clothes and both agreed that having a couple fun, flattering workout pieces help boost your confidence and almost push you to work even harder because you feel so good!  Wearing clothes that fit your current body shape and make you feel good is WAY better than being daily disappointed in how something fits or succumbing to not caring. 

Of course I’m not saying all your confidence lies within your appearance.  Your beauty and confidence come from within regardless of how you dress.  Plus, we all have those days when sweatpants and an oversized T-shirt is our non-negotiable outfit even when going out (it’s inevitable that you’ll see someone you haven’t seen in months THAT day…always happened to me at Target or the grocery store.  Really?!).  Taking care to present yourself in a way that you feel most confident about yourself may be the strategy you need to stay motivated to keep up the hard work.

There is something about confidence.  Whether you have met your weight goal, are just beginning, or are partway there, be confident in who you are and how beautiful you are.  Present yourself that way.  Don’t “give-up” because you’re not where you want to be yet.  Rock confidence.  Then whatever you wear will flatter you.