30 Days of Self Love - Confidence (and a 10 mile run!)

I have decided to join the 30 Days of Self-Love Reflectance (30 DSLR) movement which I read about here, at Faith, Fitness, Fun, where 30 DSLR is described as:

The 30 DSLR is to bring a positive change into each of our lives one day at a time. Each day will feature a new topic and message to reflect on and motivate positivity throughout your day and, hopefully, beyond.

I think it s a wonderful idea!  Plus, Day 1 (September 1st) is "Confidence" which is something I have been lacking in certain areas of my life lately.  I know very well that I am capable, but then I start to doubt myself.  I also tend to take things too personally and get overly upset over "silly things".  This is something that I have been wanting to change, and I believe that I can do that by starting with building my self-confidence. 

Day 1's mission (straight from the link above):

Take a few moments to quietly reflect on confidence and recognize what you have to offer. You have something! Focus on that throughout the day. Whenever you feel down, remember who YOU are and what you have to be proud of. Don’t negate it!
What do you have to be confident about? Proclaim it...and don’t forget that affirmation!

What do I have to be confident about?

• I am absolutely loved!  (Clearly demonstrated by my very recent engagement to the love of my life!  But also by my amazing friends and family!!!)
• I am smart!  This is the area where I feel myself lacking recently, but I need to keep reminding myself that I am going for my PhD in chemistry.  That is not easy.  I love a great challenge, which is why I decided to go back for my PhD rather than accepting an un-challenging job.  I do not know everything, but I know how to ask for advice when necessary, research, and work my way through finding the answers.
• I am a runner!  Not only can I run, but I am confident that I will be able to complete my marathon in February.  I am so excited!

For those who know me personally and are friends with me on Facebook, you know that I LOVE Quotes.  I post a new quote as my status every day, because they make myself and other happy and they promote positive and/or deep thoughts to start the day.  I plan to find a quote (most likely several) for each day of 30 DSLR to share with you all.  


The first quote and image above are also straight from the link above, but I love them both.

It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not.  ~Author Unknown

Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.  ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Whether you think you can or think you can't - you are right.  ~Henry Ford

You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.  ~Michael Jordan

Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance.  ~Bruce Barton

Sex appeal is fifty percent what you've got and fifty percent what people think you've got.  ~Sophia Loren

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The best way to gain self-confidence is to do what you are afraid to do.  ~Author Unknown

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.  We are all meant to shine, as children do.  We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.  And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.  ~Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles," 1992 (commonly misattributed to Nelson Mandela, 1994 inauguration speech)       

 ~*~*~*~*~*~

In running-related news, Caitlin, Ryan, and I ran 10 miles yesterday!  My longest run this year and Caitlin's longest run ever! Woo-hoo!  Our time was 2 hours and 2 minutes.  Our first half was at a really great speed.  Caitlin and I split a GU (strawberry banana is good!), and we were feeling great.  The second half ended up slower due to some complications in our run, but it's all good because we ran 10 miles!  I am certain our time will improve with our next run, but at least we got in the distance. 

Unfortunately, my knees are really sore right now, so as I am typing this blog post I have had ice balancing on them.  I took an ice bath after our run yesterday, but it was really late and I was hungry so I wasn't in there for very long.  Does anyone know how long an ice bath should last for optimal results?  I really am not sure.  Since my knees were causing me so much grief today, I ended up taking a rest day.  I had many different work-out plans, but sometimes rest is what is necessary. 

I hope that you all are doing wonderful!  I am still on Cloud 9 and could not be any more happy right now!  Thank you all for the wonderful comments about my engagement.  You are the best!