There is no time like the present to start working out: start running, start CrossFit, start something else. But the hardest part, for many, is how to set aside self-doubt. If it’s been a while since you last entered a gym (or laced up), the task may seem very daunting.
Getting started is the hardest part. Whether it’s taking that first walk down the block after years of inactivity, training for your first 5K, or setting foot inside a new gym or studio, it’s more than just the movement. It’s the courage to do it. It’s telling that voice inside you, the annoying one in your head that tells you that you just can’t do it, that everyone’s going to laugh at you, that yes, you can. And you will.
And it’s also, for me at least, being willing to look silly. When I first started running, I felt like a complete failure when I stopped to take walk breaks. When I first joined a gym, I felt absolutely lost. I had no idea what to do with the machines, so I took cardio classes. I tripped over myself and hid in the back, but I stuck with it.
Finally, I found CrossFit, and years later, I’ve stopped caring about what others think. I’ve stopped doubting myself. I show up to class with a puffy ponytail and no makeup. I make angry faces. When I run, I sing along to my music.
And you know why? Because I’ve seen results. I’ve seen my body change and felt my mood improve. I have something to focus on when I set aside self-doubt and get into my workouts.
Along the way, I’ve learned that 99 percent of the people you meet, either outside walking or running or in the gym or studio, are supportive of your journey. They’re traveling the same path. Some may be way ahead of you, and some may be behind you, but they all started in the same place, and they all want to see you succeed. You’re going to get smiles and nods and high-fives and fist-bumps. Your coaches and teachers and trainers are going to show you proper form and how to improve.
The only person’s opinion that matters on this journey is yours.
Just remember: You have to crawl before you can walk. And everyone else has been there, too. Set aside self-doubt, and get after your goals.