In our world today, we are constantly bombarded by images of what “should” be. How we should do our make up, what our bodies should look like, how we should behave; and in that is a plethora of negativity. The standards tell us to conform, but will that truly make us happy or confident? My answer is no. I notice a lot of people, girls especially, listening to society more than they listen to themselves. Here lies the root of our problem and the solution.
I never felt confident, until I started owning and taking accountability for myself, a lesson I learned in high school, but have grown into even more by attending classes at SoulCycle. I was a cheerleader in high school. It is a sport that requires confidence and passion, as many others do. Cheerleading was my life: practice, games, poster sessions, and competitions were a regular part of my schedule. My team and I felt our hard work went unrecognized, and now that I’ve graduated I realize that being appreciated is not the most important factor in loving what you do. My realization came from one place: SoulCycle.
SoulCycle is a company that reinvented the spin (indoor cycling) class. Riders pedal to the rhythm of the music by following their instructor, but also putting as much resistance as they need on their bikes. The room is dark, so you are not conscious of the people around you which allows you to focus on the strenuous workout at hand. This is where I’ve found a renewed sense of myself. I have always been the type of person who lives in her head, but SoulCycle makes me feel so grounded in the moment and I am forced to get out of my head. What does my body need in that moment to keep pushing harder? It is here that I find strength in myself. What lessons is the instructor telling us in the class, and how can I use those lessons in my life outside the studio?
The two greatest pieces of advice I’ve received from classes are these. One: you have to be prepared to accept the energy around you, be it good or bad. If you are trying to have a great day, then do not listen to the negativity that comes your way; it is water off your back. You are the one in control of how you feel, start listening to the good things around you. Two: when you push yourself, you are discovering how strong you are. Start stepping out of your comfort zone. You may realize your best self and the power you hold. Both pieces of advice are lessons in accountability to yourself.
You are in control of you. The moment you stop listening to images of how you should be is the moment you start owning yourself. Find the thing you love, whatever that may be, and the people you love, and use them as inspiration. Beyonce doesn’t stick to the status quo, she makes it.
Courtesy: Soul-Cycle