When people come to me and say things like:  I would love to get in shape and I think that your workouts are awesome, but it’s just too hard. I will never be as strong as you’…   it makes me realize how many of us are giving up based on comparisons and assumptions, without even trying.

We hold ourselves back way too often from taking action because we are afraid of failure. We think that we have to be perfect right off the bat without realizing everything takes time and practice. It’s no different if I said I would love to be able to play tennis, but I know I won’t ever be as good as Serena Williams, so I won’t even try. The truth is that as much as I believe in strong will and miracles, common sense tells me that although I’ll most likely never be as good as Serena, that shouldn’t stop me from trying to be “as good as I can be” if Tennis was my passion. It’s very possible to feel as strong as Serena if I remained consistent with my own practice, just as she did with hers!

The problem is that we tend to compare ourselves to others instead of appreciating the fact that our strength is in being different. Sure, there are people who are natural athletes, singers, painters, or writers with great imagination. Every one of us has a special gift! Some of us have discovered it and some of us haven’t. Just because something doesn’t come as easy to you like it does for someone else, doesn’t mean you should give up.

Imagine that everyone who wants to be a singer would get discouraged after hearing Adele’s voice. Adele is one of the very few people with such an amazing, strong voice, and she writes her own songs. How can you compete with that? Do you know what would happen? We would lose many great talents that we appreciate on many different levels for many different reasons. Imagine if the only singer in the world was Adele, and that all the rest of the musicians and singers we love today remained unknown because they couldn’t sound like her!

Don’t compare yourself to others. The only person you should always compete with and challenge is yourself. Do you want to grow as a person or do you just want to grow old? Growing as a person means being brave and ready for overcoming any challenges in order to fulfill your passion.
So let me ask you something else. Do you want to be strong, look great and feel amazing? Hopefully, I hear a YES. Then start believing in yourself, because you are stronger then you think.

FYI – years ago when I started my first blog I couldn’t do a single push up or a pistol squat. It all came with consistent practice. Don’t you worry about not being perfect. You are not supposed to – nobody is. And you have all the rest of your life to get better and better. Unless you’re competing in an Olympic sport, there’s no deadline for getting stronger, fitter, and better. The results of your hard work are what will give you real, long-lasting confidence.

So to re-check, go back and read this through whenever you’re in doubt of your strength:

1. Everything Takes Time (and Practice): Consistency is king. If you want to be great at what you do, then doing it once in a while isn’t going to get you where you want to. You have to make it a habit; a lifestyle. So if you want to be able to kick like Bruce Lee, then you’ll need to practice every day. If you want to be a good writer, then don’t write when you’re in the mood; do it on a daily basis. Some days will be good, others will be bad. But at least you’re consistent!
2. Our Strength Comes From Being Different: There’s nothing wrong with being the black sheep! How boring would a garden be if all the plants were the same? Same size, shape, species, smell… Maybe you’re never going to be an Adele… but you could be a Lady Gaga! Or a Beyonce. Point being, the things that make you most unique are what ultimately help you to stick out from the crowd. You’ll have no stress from the competition because of the fact that no one can do you as well as you!
3. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others: Same as above. They say comparison is the thief of joy, and while it’s an old-fashioned term, it still rings true. Look at social media. Why are we all trying to fit in by acting like clones of each other? Why do you have to do the exact thing as everyone else? Also, keep in mind that we’re only looking at the highlight reel of someone’s life. We don’t see the ‘bloopers’, the ‘deleted scenes’, or whatever happens behind the scenes. It’s all an illusion made up for our interpretation. Luckily more and more people are becoming transparent, communicating honestly with their followers that not everything is sunshine, rainbows, and selfies. It’s ok to share the good moments, but it’s not ok to believe they’re the only color they choose to paint their masterpiece with. As for you, your situation is completely different. You have different resources than them, so don’t worry about comparisons.

I hope these tips help you to realize your own inner strength. It’s not always easy; sometimes, we lose the battles. What’s important though is that we learn to get up again and again, growing stronger each time by embracing our true and unique self!

Best,
Z.