What a Great Run!

So, it has been awhile since I gave the old "break out the running shoes, and let's get moving" speech. To tell the truth, the weather delayed me quite a bit from my original plans of hitting the pavement. But I've officially been back out running for a month now, and it feels great!

I had the best run last night, and it reminded me of why I enjoy it so much. I've never been much of a runner, in fact I used to despise the mere thought of having to run anything that involved more than a short sprint. I started running purely because I knew I needed to be more active with my workout. I tended to slight myself and not break much of a sweat. After getting into it, I really started to enjoy the little things. Getting outside, enjoying the nature around me, listening to all the outdoor sounds (and yes this includes the cars as they fly by); This is what I love about running!

I love getting to be in my own element where nothing else can bother me. I can think about things that are stressing me out and find a way to relax about those situations. I can also choose to think about nothing and just clear my mind of all the noise. It's wonderful to have this time to myself and yet still be around other things that are going on in the world.

I just hit the point last night where I'm picking up my speed and going to need to increase my running route so that I am still running the same minutes. I love when I can feel good about myself. I'm getting faster and that's a great accomplishment to celebrate.

So what do you do to get that "me" time? Whether it be a time that you set aside to go shopping or to just walk outside and clear your head, we all need that personal space and time to get away and appreciate ourselves. You should give it a try if you don't already...It feels great!

I'm leaving you with this Springtime treat: I love funny commercials and this one just makes me laugh every time!

The Confident New You

Okay, so I'm definitely no expert on being confident. Truth is, I have struggled with confidence all my life. While I have grown from the barely able to speak, shy little girl I was as a teenager and even more so as a youth, I still struggle with self confidence every day. I found this article the other day when I was doing a little soul searching.

17 Easy Confidence Builders

There are some really great tips in this list, but I'm going to pick a few that really jumped out at me.

#3: Make a decision and go with it.

What a great rule to live by. Too many people take so long to make a decision about something that they waste time they could be spending enjoying actually doing it. I'm guilty of this almost every day. I can't seem to make a decision, but I'm happy giving suggestions for other people to choose from. It always takes forever to decide on a place to eat if I'm with a friend who is also indecisive. This is something that I am going to consciously focus on in my daily life.

#10: Don't compare yourself to anyone else.

I can confidently say that most women probably struggle with this occasionally, if not every day for some. I've always given the excuse of it being human nature, but the truth is I'm just giving myself a free pass to lower my self esteem. It does me no good to pick out the best qualities of other people just to put myself down. Instead, I'm going to strive to use these comparisons as motivators. If I really like another woman's hair, maybe I will do something unique and different to change up my style. I'm going to use my inherent jealousy of the woman running by me on the sidewalk in her sports bra that exposes her well-chiseled 6-pack abs, and turn it into the motivation I need to get my 6-pack back on track. Stop comparing and start doing!


#18: Know what you want to accomplish.


Now, if you didn't notice, this one isn't on the list. This is my own confidence builder that I use every day. In order to believe in yourself, you first have to know what it is that you want to accomplish each and every day. I like to start my day out making a list in my head of the main things I want to complete. I do this while I'm getting ready for work, no need to try and squeeze it in and rush your day. I think about work and what project I want to complete, or pieces that need to be finalized before combining them into a finished product. I also think about what I need to get done after work. Do I need to stop by the store on my way home? Should I eat before or after my workout? Do I have dinner plans with a friend? If I know my schedule and what I want to accomplish, there is little left to shake me up and get me flustered. I find that being confident about what comes next in my day makes me more confident in myself.


What is your best confidence booster?