Interesting topic.
It’s somewhat counterintuitive, but bodybuilders are among the most insecure folk there are.
How sensitive they are concerning anything about their body, or anything else for that matter.
It isn’t necessary narcism, but most begin training because of some large gap in their persona, and they try to fill it in with getting a better body, and putting their drive into it.
As such, they can answer to the image of the person they want themselves to be, usually a strong, secure, muscled man.
This, of course, works well, until a few things occur :
- Progress comes to a stop(due to injury or stagnation)
- Their source of confidence falls in doubt(or at least source of arrogance, which is, just as well, insecurity, and perhaps even worse, as it is defensive insecurity - see towards the average bodybuilding board poster and compare with other boards, around music, or even powerlifting boards)
Thus, the bodybuilder falls into(perhaps even greater)insecurity.
This, while his direct environment(the people we encounter every day)expect actually the OPPOSITE of it.(assuming the guy actually looks like a bodybuilder)
This is the reason why I am mildly against obsessing with bodybuilding alone … for it is a very unstable source of selfesteem.
For a gig : if you know any powerlifters in your environment(real powerlifters), compare them to the bodybuilders. Note how much more laid-back the former are, and how much more insecure the latter are in comparison.
This is because powerlifters have more stable goals and achievements, than a bodybuilder, who’s body is much more sensitive to change.
If you can use the selfesteem you get from bodybuilding, and developing a better body, and go towards other goals, you will keep progressing to be a better human being, hence, you will be more succesful in life, hence, you will have true confidence.
Does anyone have any comment on this ?
