Life is the greatest roller coaster ride we will ever take. The ups and downs, the unexpected changes, the twists and turns, are all a part of living. The roller coaster ride of life can be miserable and uncomfortable or exciting and rewarding. Our states of mind and body are key factors in how we handle these changes. The problems of life do not go away magically. We have to consciously work on making our lives more positive and joyful.
Once in an ENCHANTED SELF workshop, one woman related a story about her Thanksgiving dinner. She had recently suffered a painful and unexpected breakup with a boyfriend. Although she was experiencing grief, she had a strong inner desire to reclaim her sense of self and move forward with her life.
It was interesting to hear her speak about the family meal. As she looked around at her extended family seated at the table, she became filled with love and felt the love reflected back towards her. It was then that she made a conscious choice to stay focused in the moment, to remain in a loving state and to share that love with those around her.
There were some inner struggles during the course of the evening because Thanksgiving held poignant memories for her involving her ex-boyfriend. When these memories surfaced, she deliberately chose to put them aside. After the family gathering, she confidently exclaimed, "I won!"
Her conscious decision to remain in a positive state of being, coupled with the feelings of love that she felt toward everyone, were the most critical factors in staying focused in the moment. She had triumphed because she did not succumb to feelings of depression and pity. Like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz when she clicked her heels and said, "there's no place like home," she realized that the things she was searching for -- strength, love and happiness--could be found in her "own backyard."
The support and love that comes from our family and friends, as well as the inner strength we develop when we get to know and accept ourselves, was right there.
We will always tussle with dark thoughts and the negative sides of our personalities. Sometimes there will be unpleasant events in our lives, but we can choose not to let these things invade our sense of self-dignity and worth. When we make conscious choices about how we will respond to difficult situations, we feel empowered. For that moment we are in charge of our destiny. Nobody ever said that achieving positive states of mind and body was easy, but then again nobody ever said it was hard. It's a matter of focusing on the positive, and self-education.
Positive memory retrieval is the tool that enhances our ENCHANTED SELF journey. Reaching a positive state of inner and outer harmony is the essence of THE ENCHANTED SELF. One way of reaching this state is to give love and support to our selves and to others. Let's make this year a year of growth, peace, harmony and shared optimism.
Exercise: Heightening Our Experience of Pleasure
This exercise is designed not only to help you remember and validate positive aspects of your past, but to emphasize the need to stay more attentive to positive happenings in the present that may precipitate pleasure.
Were there moments in your childhood when you felt particularly happy? These moments can be from any age -- from your earliest memories through young adulthood. When you find a golden memory, savor it. See yourself at that age and experiment with letting different senses reconnect to that happy time.
Take time to really enjoy this happy memory. Now scan your memory bank and the most recent past to see if you can think of one thing that you enjoyed doing in the last week. Give yourself permission to relive through your memory that pleasant time. Again, use all of your senses to reconnect you with that wonderful experience.
About The Author
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein , originator of THE ENCHANTED SELF?, a method of bringing delight and meaning into everyday living, invites you to view her new line of ENCHANTED WOMAN products, downloadable e-books, and free gifts at http://www.enchantedself.com. Chat with others in Dr. Holstein's e-group, http://www.enchantedself.com, and sign up for her free e-group at http://www.enchantedself.com. Order her book, THE ENCHANTED SELF: A Positive Therapy, or the CD-rom or tape version and her book RECIPES FOR ENCHANTMENT: The Secret Ingredient is YOU!, or the ED-rom version, at our website.
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carWhat's wrong with me? When I'm sick I get grumpy... Read More
Let's say you're ready to change some aspect of your... Read More
Gail's StoryGail is a friend of mine and she was... Read More
In my years as a psychologist, I have come to... Read More
IntroductionWe can find all type of people in this world... Read More
WE ARE ALL THINKING ALL OF THE TIME.Can you believe... Read More
There are only two emotions we can experience; love or... Read More
I will never forget an evening in 2003, when I... Read More
Just in an average day we can experience many things... Read More
Heard of a raindance? It is a ritual used by... Read More
Our thoughts really belong to the collective consciousness of the... Read More
As I walked my dogs recently on what "should" have... Read More
I just heard the story of a man who hired... Read More
One often hears people say they can't sketch because they... Read More
The way to define your personality is to refine your... Read More
Visualization is the art of using ones imagination to influence... Read More
I am often astounded at what and why people believe... Read More
Have you ever felt the whole world was against you?... Read More
Know thyself.These words were inscribed in the vestibule of the... Read More
How would your life shift if you moved into what... Read More
Our thoughts define who we are. They can make us... Read More
My story explains the struggles I had as a 23-year-old... Read More
Aging is a matter of the mind.The years may creep... Read More
As a trainer of coaches I often teach my students... Read More
Words, Ignorance, and Casper The Friendly Ghost!Do your best to... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo .."The difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone... Read More
There are times that we encounter fearful thoughts that can... Read More
Thinkers know better than to be racist. It's generally understood... Read More
Why do we have such a downer on Pollyanna? After... Read More
Contrary to the popular saying "attitude is everything" attittude is... Read More
Distortions are False Beliefs Programmed every Day by Self and... Read More
We all need encouragement. Even the most callous, hard headed... Read More
So, do you love yourself?Shouldn't really be a difficult question... Read More
The quality of your life is directly related to your... Read More
I have had many confidence issues in my life, all... Read More
WE ARE ALL THINKING ALL OF THE TIME.Can you believe... Read More
This may sound quite aberrant to most of the younger... Read More
Changing your mindset can have a significant impact on achieving... Read More
I Hear Voices?This is not a statement of paranormal; it... Read More
Using an opponent's force against them is the fundamental teaching... Read More
I will never forget an evening in 2003, when I... Read More
Speaking comes to most people as naturally as breathing. On... Read More
The way to define your personality is to refine your... Read More
Have you truly tried and still failed? Have you pushed... Read More
One day while in deep meditation and self analysis, a... Read More
IntroductionDid your boss, took you for a ride? Did your... Read More
The universe is vast, it's dimensions inconceivable, it's potentialities unimaginable,... Read More
Never used 'em. Not likely to start now.OK, so I... Read More
All the problems that any individual has in their lives... Read More
Everyone of us has the potential to successfully more through... Read More
Positive Attitude Tips |