Confidence and self-respect go hand-in-hand. If you want to gain more confidence, earning self-respect is a surefire way to do that.

If you’re tired of letting yourself down, failing at your diet, skipping the gym because you can’t keep your routine, or feeling like you don’t deserve success, it’s time to turn things around. 

As a personal trainer for the past 15 years, I know how important self-respect is to achieve success. These are the TOP THREE TIPS I give to women I work with AND follow myself to develop the self-respect needed to hit those goals.

DO HARD THINGS DAILY

It would be really easy for us to stay within our comfort zones and never try new things, but that won’t produce any real growth. When we step outside our comfort zones and challenge ourselves with new obstacles, we’re pushing our bodies and minds to the limit. 

Those limits remind us that we’re strong and can do hard things. It’s also a great reminder that it’s OK to fail! Failure means that you tried, but it’s important to remember to get back up and keep going after that next mountain until you conquer it. Here are a few ways I like to do this in my everyday life:

• Sign up for a race 
• Try new recipes that I’ve never seen before
• Push my reps to the next level at the gym
• Embrace new work challenges
• Set a fitness-related goal and train to meet it

Related: Your Only Competition is Yourself

KEEP YOUR PROMISES TO YOURSELF

When we make promises to our friends and family, we’re not likely to break those since our people are counting on us. But when you make a promise to yourself, you’re the only one who can hold yourself accountable. 

It’s hard to stay on track and find the motivation to hold yourself responsible for the goals you set, but it’s such an essential piece of earning self-respect. You need to build trust with yourself and feel like you can rely on your body and mind to help you accomplish whatever you need to do. 

If you say you’re going to go to the gym tomorrow morning and then don’t, you’re subconsciously setting an expectation that it’s OK to flake out on those plans. Even when you’re struggling to find the energy to persevere, keeping the promises you make to yourself will help you reach your goals over time.

Related: 4 Secrets to Stay on Track With Your Health Goals

DON'T QUIT WHEN THINGS GET HARD

Listen, I know what it feels like to be so discouraged that you’re just ready to give up. After I had my third baby, I thought I was doing everything right, but I wasn’t seeing the results I was working so hard for. I was ready to quit and give up, but my husband reminded me of the importance of reframing my perspective. 

It was OK for me to admit that what I was doing wasn’t working, but the next thought in my mind was, “Where do I go from here? What can I learn from this?” That was one of my most difficult postpartum moments, and if I had quit, I wouldn’t have found a more holistic healing approach that truly worked wonders for my body. 

Everyone has those moments. It’s totally normal, but what truly matters is deciding to push through, reframe your perspective, and embrace the challenge.

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SET A GOOD EXAMPLE

Whenever I’m struggling with following these tips, I remember that there are four little ones looking at me to understand what healthy habits look like. It’s a great reminder that even if I can’t push through for myself some days, I can push through for them! 

We also talk a lot about accountability in my BodyByBree fitness training programs, so if you need some support on your fitness journey, there are a ton of other women in the same boat. Join today and begin building that self-respect together! You are so worthy of it.