What "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo" taught me about self-worth

When you feel never enough – never good enough, never smart enough, never pretty enough – here's a little something to remind yourself...

Some Kdramas are pure fantasy with their chaebol heirs, dramatic love triangles, and people waking up with perfect hair and skin even after a rough night. But then there are dramas like “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” that feel like it was written just for you by being relatable, funny, and brimming with life lessons that sneak up on you when you least expect it.

And the biggest lesson? Self-worth.

If you’ve ever felt “not enough” – not talented enough, not funny enough, not smart enough, not pretty enough, not whatever enough – Bok Joo’s story will hit you right in the heart, in all the good ways possible. Here’s why this drama changed the way I see myself (and why it might do the same for you):

Strength is more than just the physical

Bok Joo is a weightlifter. Literally. But her real strength isn’t limited in the gym. It’s in how she learns to love herself, flaws and all, after everything she’s been through.

At the start, she’s constantly trying to fit into other people’s expectations. She worries she’s not feminine enough. She crushes on a guy who doesn’t see her the way she wants to be seen. (We’ve all been there, haven’t we? 😅) To top it all off, she starts doubting the one thing she’s truly great at: being her own authentic self – carefree, a great friend and daughter, funny and witty, a lover of food, knows how to have fun… the list goes on.

I love how by the end, Bok Joo realizes that her worth isn’t about how she looks or whether a guy likes her. She has the love and support of her family and friends. She allowed herself to develop a special bond with someone who makes her feel loved and seen without being judged. And honestly, that’s a message we all need.

The right people will love you for YOU

There are scenes in the drama where Bok Joo tried to change herself. She wore dresses, acted all cute and feminine. I admire the effort and courage when she tried to become someone she’s not, because we all need to try and fail before we realize what (and who) works for us and what doesn’t.

(Cue flashbacks to every awkward phase we went through just to impress a crush. 😁)

But here’s what “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” gets so right: The people who truly love you would never ask you to change.

Joon Hyung loves Bok Joo for exactly who she is. Messy bun? Still cute. Competitive spirit? Adorable. The ability to carry him like a sack of rice? Honestly, couple goals. He never asks her to be "softer or “more ladylike.” He simply loves Bok Joo as Bok Joo, for better or for worse.

And if that’s not a lesson in self-worth, I don’t know what is.

Remember: You’re allowed to take up space

Bok Joo is strong, loud, passionate, and unafraid to dream big. But at the start of the drama, she struggles with feeling like she doesn’t belong. Don’t we all, sometimes?

We shrink ourselves, apologize for being not enough or too much, and try to fit into the tiny boxes society hands us. But Bok Joo? She learns that she’s allowed to take up space. She’s allowed to chase her dreams, to fail, to get back up, and to be unapologetically herself.

And so are you. ♥️

Key takeaways: Bok-joo would want you to love yourself, too!

At its core, “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” is a kdrama about growth, love, and learning to value yourself even when you’re still a work in progress.

So, if you ever feel like you’re too much or not enough, just remember:

• You are stronger than you think.

• The right people will love you for YOU.

• You are allowed to take up space.

And most importantly? Bok Joo would 100% approve of you living your best, happiest, most confident life.

Now, let’s all go eat some chicken.

Oh, and… do you like Messi? 😆