I'm fairly new to TRP. I started reading back towards the end of November while I was working on overall self improvement. A lot of the material here really resonated with me, like it did a lot of you. I started making a lot of changes: diet, exercise, dressing, etc. Somethings I had just started doing, but now with more purpose as I knew I was on the right track. I had already signed myself up for a class on weight training in the following semester, so the lifting aspect didn't start til the end of January.

A lot of improvements I've noticed since I started lifting. The most obvious being muscle definition. I have always been a fit guy. A marine for a father will do that for you, but I really started to look better. Feeling better came next, as did the confidence, clearer mind, etc. A lot of TRP veterans already know this, but humor for a moment longer. The new clothes started to fit better, people have started to notice the difference, and I notice I get a lot more female attention. But this isn't for them, this is for me.

Today, as I always do, I started out at the squat rack. My teacher has all us do an exercise that focuses on one of the 11 major muscles she had us learn in class. Mine for the glutes was barbell squats. For some reason or another I wasn't really confident about my form. I did my first set, but I wasn't going as low as I usually was. I had lost a bit of confidence in my form, and I wasn't going to risk it. I also noticed that the weight felt heavier than usual. I thought it was strange, but brushed it off as not getting the extra hour of sleep my brain was really wanting this morning. I took a momentary break, and took a step back while I was watching someone else squat. He had the exact same form I had, so I reaffirmed within myself that what I was doing was the right thing. So I got back into position and lifted the weight on my shoulders. Do you know what happened? The weight wasn't nearly as bad. It was the same weight. I was still where I needed to be, but because I had confidence in myself. Because I knew I had the right form and was doing the right thing for me, I felt stronger, and the weight lighter. I even did an extra set for the hell of it.

My point is, if you have confidence in yourself. If you believe that what you're doing for yourself is right, you will be stronger and bolder. Take some time and do a self examination to figure out what is your pace, what you want, and what is right for you. You will have more confidence if you are sure of yourself. Even though this is more for the newer guys like myself, this is still an important lesson. Hold your frame, and believe in your ability. You'll be surprised what you can do. Now shut up, and go lift.

Edit: Just to be clear, this isn't advice for the gym. As I said before, I'm still learning. The TLDR is: If you have confidence in yourself, everything you attempt is a little easier.