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
So what is a limiting belief?Don't you love the current... Read More
In the international bestseller, Blink, Malcolm Gladwell explains how researchers... Read More
"Putting ourselves down, is an insult to our worth." --Helen... Read More
"For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is... Read More
Yuk!One thing, I really have a problem with is criticism.... Read More
When you look at your future in terms of your... Read More
No, not that kind.Power and potential are synonymous. Your ultimate... Read More
Our lives are overflowing with negative information from the newspapers,... Read More
The most happy and successful people on earth have a... Read More
I was a young girl aged 12, when the one... Read More
There was some sunshine this weekend while I was writing... Read More
Why do we have such a downer on Pollyanna? After... Read More
My story explains the struggles I had as a 23-year-old... Read More
Peak Performance. It means being at the top of your... Read More
WE ARE ALL THINKING ALL OF THE TIME.Can you believe... Read More
? If it takes me to periphery (Drifted into continuous... Read More
Say aloud:I AM. I AM Consciousness. I AM the creator... Read More
There are times in all of our lives where our... Read More
Everyone faces challenges during their life, from suffering the death... Read More
They're out there? they look like people you know, but... Read More
I started life writing in the fifth grade. My mother... Read More
Since the beginning of human history we have been living... Read More
I'm a working mother with a preschooler, worrying about Mom... Read More
We hear a lot these days about accepting responsibility for... Read More
Every time something doesn't go quite right (rather frequently for... Read More
quick home cleaning Northbrook ..Do you know the problem with affirmations? You know, the... Read More
Maureen worked in an office with twenty other people, processing... Read More
It's time to put a bad rumor to rest right... Read More
I woke up this morning feeling sour.No. That's an understatement.... Read More
Lately, there has been a collective challenge to avoid being... Read More
Never Quitting Equals Success Most people who achieve fortunes in... Read More
Why do we have such a downer on Pollyanna? After... Read More
Have you ever noticed what can happen if you just... Read More
Self belief is a wonderful thing.I know from my own... Read More
Barry was on the phone in his office, speaking with... Read More
How many times have you heard someone say, "Hey, cheer... Read More
I once heard the story of a grown bear that... Read More
Can you do something for me?Tell me?Please don't think tomorrow.What?Yeah,... Read More
What's wrong with me? When I'm sick I get grumpy... Read More
Everyone of us has the potential to successfully more through... Read More
Do you talk with yourself? When we hear people talking... Read More
Looking for a bit more mindfulness in your daily life?... Read More
There are many dynamics that go into making a great... Read More
There is an old joke about a man who is... Read More
Early in my career a position became available which I... Read More
I have had many confidence issues in my life, all... Read More
"Every prayer - every thought, every statement, every feeling -is... Read More
One thing that is important to realize about thought: one... Read More
Being the next Carmen Electra or Paris Hilton might or... Read More
Why do we help others? There is a whole lot... Read More
Positive Attitude Tips |