Happy in your skin

‘When you are truly comfortable in your own skin, not everyone will like you, but you won’t care one bit!’

How many of us can make that statement with absolute confidence? If so well done you! I’d say most people have some reservation about being absolute.

There’s a lot of talk about super foods, training programs and diets, and how they’re all geared towards weight loss and getting us in shape. Being healthy and getting in shape is great but what if you’re on the best exercise program, eating the healthiest foods and in your best shape ever, but still dislike who you are? 

They say beauty is only skin-deep, but beauty is deeper than that. In fact true beauty goes all the way to the heart. The beauty I’m talking about is being happy in your own skin. Today beauty carries a superficial label that is propped up by approval from others. Sadly this doesn’t necessarily guarantee happiness.

True beauty is about loving who you are, accepting flaws or mistakes and understanding that no matter what happens it’s OK being you.

In the fitness industry, there’s often a perception that to truly feel good about yourself you need to look fit and have a great body. This will only change when the emphasis shifts from skinny equalling beauty to “learning to be comfortable in your own skin”.

How do we do that?

Start by observing your own negative thoughts, people or events that create feelings of insecurity. There will always be people who will try to drag you down or events that crush your confidence. That’s life. But controlling the controllables helps maintain your confidence.

Feeling good in your own skin doesn’t happen instantly – it’s a work in progress. Feed encouraging thoughts into your head and focus on your strengths instead of your weaknesses. This will help you become comfortable in your own skin, which, in turn, starts to build resilience and confidence. And who knows where that will lead!

It’s time to ignore the marketing hype of what is acceptable beauty and connect with being happy in your own skin. No beauty product, super food, weight loss diet or amazing program will make you happy in your skin if you aren’t comfortable with who you are. Being happy is absolutely controlled by you.

I’ll finish with a line from Bruce Springsteen’s Better Days: It’s a sad man my friend who’s living in his own skin and can’t stand the company.

Tread your path wisely!