My story explains the struggles I had as a 23-year-old single, divorced mom with three children, ages six, four, and one and then shows some practical ways I used to change my life and claim my personal power. Self-pity, anger, guilt, and self-hatred were my constant emotional companions. I was suffering physically, mentally and spiritually. In 1980, I made $80 a week, received sporadic child support payments of $300 a month and lived in fear that we would not survive. I was afraid of life and worried incessantly. I smoked, ate unhealthy foods, did not work out and spent endless hours watching television. My mind was constantly focusing on what everyone else in my life should be changing so I could be happy. Because I could not change anyone else, I thought I was a hopeless failure and could not do anything right.
Through the help of Alanon and counseling, I realized that I do have choices and I was the one that needed to change. I listened to my own self-talk. It was negative. I replaced my self-talk, "I am stupid" with "I am learning" and "I am worthless" to "I am good enough." One goal I had was to quit smoking. Studies were showing the negative effects of smoking and I did not like the fact that I was addicted to cigarettes. I had tried to quit smoking many times before. Success was realized when I used visualizations and affirmations to stop smoking. Affirmations are simple statements that you say to yourself, like "I can"..."I am good enough"..."I am successful." Saying affirmations works because your subconscious mind creates exactly what you tell it. However, I was gaining five pounds a month and being good at math realized if I continued, I would be sixty pounds heavier in a year. Determined not to return to smoking to eliminate the weight gain, I turned to affirmations and exercise.
When I started working out, my muscles ached and I wanted to quit because I was not seeing results fast enough. I would say the affirmations to help me get through the work out. Not only did my physical strength improve, so did my self-image and my attitude towards life. Focusing on the affirmations made the workout easier because I was thinking of positive things. Just as my body reaped the benefits of working out twenty-four hours later, so did my mind. I found throughout the day that I would be repeating the affirmations.
By combining exercise with affirmations helped me in many of my daily struggles. If I was in an uncomfortable situation, I started connecting to the uncomfortable feeling I had working out and the affirmations would come to mind. They helped me gain the self-confidence I needed to address my everyday fears and insecurities.
My spirit was becoming more at peace because my body and mind were working together as one. Positive energy was filling my being. Not only was I learning to accept and love myself, I had more energy to cope with being a single parent.
This simple technique of saying positive affirmations when walking, running, or lifting weights is a great way to increase self-esteem and learn to love the entire self, mind, body and spirit. I wanted to share this technique of exercising with affirmations so "Power of Positive Aerobics" was created. To learn about the exciting workout video that combines affirmations with aerobic movements, visit powerpositiveworkouts.com.
Ellie Peterson
Creator of Power of Positive Aerobics Workout Video
powerpositiveworkouts.com
No one likes rejection. And yet it happens. Here's how... Read More
"Someone was hurt before you; wronged before you, hungry before... Read More
When I was little I was very busy--as I imagine... Read More
Smart folk have always realised how vital it is to... Read More
Your response (reaction?) to change is conditioned by your entire... Read More
1. Take passionate action towards living your life by design.... Read More
Recently a great idea popped into my head about creating... Read More
Hospital patient undergoing surgery recounts how Hero Soul provided strength,... Read More
So, do you love yourself?Shouldn't really be a difficult question... Read More
When you change your thoughts, you change your life. The... Read More
Heard of a raindance? It is a ritual used by... Read More
A day in your life is a brief and precious... Read More
I thought this was fitting sense I just experienced a... Read More
The milkman knocks at the door of the old lady's... Read More
Before we are able to use the Universal Thought System... Read More
Life is the greatest roller coaster ride we will ever... Read More
What I mean of course is, to appreciate life through... Read More
In frustration it's easy to jump to false conclusions that... Read More
The universe is vast, it's dimensions inconceivable, it's potentialities unimaginable,... Read More
I'm a working mother with a preschooler, worrying about Mom... Read More
Clear Conflict with Forgiveness:Forgiveness is the means to solve all... Read More
You wake up in the morning sleepy and fatigued; the... Read More
This is a technique that sounds a bit silly when... Read More
Say aloud:I AM. I AM Consciousness. I AM the creator... Read More
You may be facing a type of disappointment, frustration, loss,... Read More
residential cleaning services Deerfield ..Attitude, has a way of preening itself, often without awareness... Read More
It was the 10th day of rain, and I walked... Read More
Normally I race around multitasking. I am always thinking about... Read More
The only thing between you and your desire to be... Read More
Decades ago, I saw a metaphysical movie that wonderfully illustrates... Read More
So...you might just believe I hide behind computers creating and... Read More
Does that title make you cringe? It made me cringe... Read More
As I swooshed down the Zoom Flume water slide at... Read More
What do you do when things in your life don't... Read More
One day while in deep meditation and self analysis, a... Read More
If you suffer with or have in the past suffered... Read More
Cheri decided that she wanted to grow an apple tree... Read More
"At birth, a baby's brain contains 100 billion neurons, roughly... Read More
Changing your mindset can have a significant impact on achieving... Read More
Are you driving under the influence of impaired emotions?Dateline: December... Read More
Many people who suffer from low self-esteem would give anything... Read More
So what is a limiting belief?Don't you love the current... Read More
Being a mom can take a toll on your body,... Read More
Our thoughts really belong to the collective consciousness of the... Read More
Many of the books on this page were inspired by... Read More
Have you heard of the FABS? The FABS are quadruplets;... Read More
I don't want to say people are basically negative but?..if... Read More
A Model of the dysfunctional, unconscious human psyche. A way... Read More
When you feel lost and confused, it is easy to... Read More
Do you talk with yourself? When we hear people talking... Read More
Positive Attitude Tips |