One of the main things I’ve learned about and have really enjoyed these past months post graduation is personal development. I had honestly never really heard the term or knew about the concept before I joined the Misfit Republic team.
It definitely unsettles me that we don’t learn about personal development while we are in school, especially at a younger age like when we are feeling like lost, confused, and self-conscious teenagers. I’ve only read three books and feel I’ve been enlightened to golden knowledge! I know that sounds completely cheesy, but it’s the best way I can explain it. I really enjoy the books I have read.
One of the things I learned is that you have to be triumphant over your inner nay sayer and just have unwavering faith in endless possibilities. Not only must we have faith but we have to put in the effort, especially in creating habits. Habits can be the hardest because we take action steps and expect results immediately. Of course in creating habits we have to have patience and enjoy the process because new habits especially when they differ greatly from our current habits can be quite difficult and take a long time to replace.
As silly as it always sounded to me and still seems I have made it a goal of mine to start doing daily affirmations. These are statements that you write or say to yourself to spread positivity to you throughout your day. They serve as reminders of the good in us, and aid in quieting the negative thoughts that we often say to ourselves.
My personal favorite affirmations:
“I am beautiful.”
“I can do this.”
“I am capable.”
“I am strong.”
“I am smart.”
“I am able to create the life I desire.”
“I am doing great!”
“I am going to give it my all.”
These have been really helpful when faced with my personal challenge of getting in a run. I struggle often to convince myself to muster up the mental energy to get into a run. Then when I do start a run, it’s a constant battle of “I can’t,” and “I’m tired.” Yet, I decided that if I made a goal to improve my running, I was going to have to drop the negativity that surrounds my opinion and thoughts of my running abilities and replace them with encouragement.
I will be triumphant in my goals. I will triumph in my runs. My last two runs I’ve devoted to this new habit and have sent myself nothing but encouragement the whole run long without focusing on the questions I use to throw at myself before. “Can I really do this?” “How much further do I have to?” In throwing “I am awesome.” “I am fast!” and so on I feel unstoppable and most important confident. In this new practice I have been able to keep a consistent pace so far during my runs, something I haven’t been able to do in a while. I hope to only grow in running, and will keep with my affirmations until they become so natural that I can run with them as an eternal feeling.
I will triumph over my inner nay sayer both in doubting that “I am a runner.” As well as many other aspects in my life that I often talk me down in. I hope that everyone can find and truly believe in their beauty, strength, and potential. Even if you have to say it to yourself a thousand times before you truly believe it, I encourage you to start your own personal affirmations for wherever you may be struggling or lacking a little faith in yourself.
What are some affirmations you tell or will being to tell yourself?
What is one area in your life that you want to be triumphant in?
curlycaroline 
Hmm… Hello from the Blog Hop! One of the the truths I have to repeat over and over to myself is, 1 John 4:9-11, ‘ In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.’ Whenever I struggle with doubts or fears it’s so encouraging to remember just how BIG His love is.
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I’m glad you have your faith to keep you positive through the rough times! It’s good to believe in the positive in the world and know that love is truly possible for all.
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I agree – it’s amazing what we’re not taught in school that we don’t learn until we get out into the real world. I love that you’re learning about personal development on you own through the books you’ve read. You’ve got some good affirmations!
Thanks for linking up!
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I’m struggling with PD books as they’re not all keeping my interest like fiction does.
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Which books have you found you couldn’t get through Cassi? I know they can be repetitive or seem a little silly with the overpowering optimism but I also feel that its important to keep reminding ourselves of these concepts because we can so easily let them go to the back burner and allow our ingrained habits (that might not always be the best of which we should have) take over again. Also do you have a favorite author you enjoy!?
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It is so true that you need to triumphant over the inner voice. Unfortunately that is no always possible. I am glad that you are trying good luck.
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I believe that it is possible, we just have to trick ourselves in believing sometimes, or keep repeating those positive affirmations until we start to believe in them. I’ve learned that sulking and letting the negativity take over doesn’t do anything for us but cripple us, and why can’t we believe that we are amazing, beautiful, unique. After all there is no one like us and we have the power to make ourselves better if only we make a change. Our inner voice is often our insecurities built on fear we create ourselves.
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It’s so important to have those positive affirmations – in every day life AND in running. I never used them more than I do than when I’m running!!! 🙂
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They have been helping me through my runs lately! I’m surprised I never thought of affirmations while running before!
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Affirmations are great. I do a “you’ve got this” before doing specific things….
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I’m glad you are getting some positive vibes in your life! It’s amazing how a small statement can do so much for us!
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I find myself getting stronger in my self affirmations – mostly happens when out on a run, “you can do this,” “you’ve trained for this,” “you have done this same workout before”…sometimes the affirmations win out and I am able to make it through! I also find it difficult to get out the door for a run…even just this morning. I was calculating the time that it would take to complete my workout if I were to push it until my lunch break…but I was finally able to get out (in JUST enough time to make it to work on time after too!). The more we affirm the positives, the less the negatives have an affect on us!
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YES! Starting is the hardest part sometimes, but since I started a outlined 5k program it has helped me be more disciplined in HAVING to make time and put in effort to getting my runs in and conquering the distance set for that day.
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I absolutely LOVE reading personal development books and you are SO right – they make such a huge impact! Love this and love each of your positive affirmations!
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Thank you! If you ever have any great recommendations for PD books I’d love to hear them!
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I love this! I try to do this as well, although it’s really hard. I sometimes use “Strong, smart, steady” on a long run to remind myself that I’m strong, I’m running smart (not going out too fast), and that I’m going to keep running steady no matter how tired I get. If I tell myself that I’m all of those things, my mind just has to believe it!
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That’s awesome! Ive been telling myself these exact things as of late! My 5k training focuses on hitting a distance for each run and Ive been going over running smart as you say in my own head that I can keep my pace and make it through 🙂
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I love this list of positive affirmations. Its so important that we think good thoughts and create an environment to be motivated.
You got this, Caroline!
My affirmation is similar. I can do it!
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That’s definitely one of my affirmations when I’m working out 🙂
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Great advice. I used to think mantras and intentions were kinda cheesy, but then I started setting intentions for myself each week and I realized how much they made a difference. My current favorite mantra/intention is “Always remember that your present situation is not your final destination”. When I run, my mantra is “Carry On”. It reminds me that I’m lucky to be running and should celebrate it.
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I’ve found mantras so helpful during my runs as of late! Carry On is definitely a great one to think of!
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Yes, this post is great! You have to have faith and believe in yourself in order to achieve great things. I fully believe that. It takes hard work mentally to keep yourself positive through the tough times. Running especially is a time when I have mantras. I always say, you have to train yourself mentally as well as physically for the race.
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