We've all had this same feeling. You walk into the gym ready to do your workout, feeling confident and strong. Then you start and notice the guy next to you pushing more weights, doing higher reps, and just being better. You start to lose your confidence and feel like you can't beat him, so you give up. You don't go back to the gym for a few days or maybe even a few weeks because you don't want to feel insignificant.
I'm the kind of person that feels intimidated at any gym. It could be a gym for toddlers and I still wouldn't feel as cool as the two year-old benching more than me. I used to hate going to the gym for this exact reason. Other people were always stronger than me and made me feel insignificant in comparison.
You don't always have to be the strongest one at the gym. It's completely okay to not bench as much as the guy next to you. It's okay to go a little slower on the treadmill. We all have our own strengths and weaknesses, and we can set goals for ourselves. There is nothing wrong with room for improvement.
There seems to be a stigma at gyms everywhere that if you're not the strongest on your first try, you're not doing it right. Why? No one can squat 200 lbs on their first shot. Everyone has to work hard to meet their goals and make themselves stronger. This stigma has hurt so many people and made them feel like they will never be great. That's not true. Everyone, no matter what shape or size, has the opportunity to better themselves at the gym and be just as good as everyone else there.
Recently I saw a great quote at my gym. It said, "You don't have to be great to start something, you just have to be motivated." This quote is so perfect for so many people. Not everyone at the gym is a body builder or training for a marathon. Most of them just want to stay fit and active to keep themselves healthy. These guys who just go to the gym to show off should not intimidate you at all. They're not that impressive, trust me.
If you feel intimidated by anyone at your gym, don't let them get to you. You are strong in your own ways, and you have no reason to feel any weaker because of other people. You do you, and don't worry about the others.
