When I was little I was very busy--as I imagine most little girls are. At six years of age I had my toys, my fire station with a real bell, my fire trucks and other cars, my paper dolls, my coloring books and large box of Crayola assorted crayons, my picture books and stuffed animals. One of my most important possessions was a 'working' toy which was my ceramic pig that served as my personal banker. This pig controlled my destiny to some extent, because when there was enough change inside of him, I got to go downtown Bridgeport with my mother and guess what? I picked out a new toy! Now I was going on seven and saving every penny toward a Toni doll. Did you know you could perm her hair? I couldn't wait!
And then, as if in a flash, I was no longer going on seven, but turning 10. A different house, a different town, but still so many interests and passions! I had my hand held sewing machine and spent hours creating outfits for my dolls. The Toni doll was still around, but unimportant-small vogue dolls were my passion. I figured out a way to make my own paper patterns for their clothing. I liked my patterns because they involved less sewing than the store bought doll patterns. That was good for me as I was more interested in adding details such as lace trim, rather than doing a lot of sewing. The exception to my own rule was the bridal gown for my large Vogue doll. I went all out and sewed feverishly, dreaming of a day when ...
I was incredibly busy. I had to practice my violin. I had to read my latest Little Lulu comic. I was in the middle of the Nancy Drew Mystery Book that I had convinced my mom to buy me. Oh-I had to work on my next Girl Scout Badge by next Thursday. Yes, so much to do and so little time. I'm always at least three days behind in my diary, but I must keep recording my life!
Wash up fast! I Love Lucy is on. Everything stops for I Love Lucy!
Can you feel the energy-the passion and determination of the child? It might surprise you to realize that within each of us, the child, with her energy, her passions, her potential for greatness, is still alive. It may take a trip back in time to find what really sparked us. It may take some creative re-inventing to figure out how we can use the wonderment of our younger self in a form that will work now. Let me now share with you how I further explored childhood positive energies and their retrieval with a colleague.
I was talking to Nancy Fredericks. She is a corporate consultant and the co-author of a wonderful, empowering book for women, entitled DANCING ON THE GLASS CEILING. As we shared our passion to encourage women to find their strengths and potential (what I call The Song of Your Soul), she shared with me how often she finds that the secret to this personal essence resides in our past.
She remembered herself as a child making potholders. She loved making them, but after awhile she had an awfully lot of potholders. She gave some away and still made them. Then she began to think that there had to be a reason for all these potholders! She started selling them to neighbors. They sold! She made more. She got the idea of enrolling her girlfriends in making potholders. It worked. Suddenly she had a big booming business.
Here she was-a third grader with "the first pot holder mass-production line in her neighborhood." She began to make a profit.
In her book, Nancy goes on to say that through recalling this aspect of her childhood she came in contact with a clue about her Heart's Purpose: "a love of business and a talent for managing people and achieving results."
Nancy's child is so clear. A business entrepreneur in the making! I will have to play with my child and tease out some of the energy that still asks to be cherished in this part of my life. That's OK. I'm not in a rush and part of recovering our earlier passions-to now live a life that Nancy labels: "Fully Passionate, Fully Alive"- involves time and nurturing.
Why don't you 'play' with your child for awhile also? Pick an age or a couple of ages and get to know that priceless human being again. I suggest that you keep a list of all the talents, strengths and potential you find as you revisit your younger selves.
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 her webiste. http://www.enchantedself.com
Willow Springs limo O'Hare .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareWhy do we have such a downer on Pollyanna? After... Read More
This may sound quite aberrant to most of the younger... Read More
The others in the raft didn't seem to share Eddie's... Read More
Kasia is a talented landscape designer who speaks several languages,... Read More
"Who am I fooling?" "I'm a loser," "I'm too old,"... Read More
Bosses can't control many things at work. In fact, they... Read More
Barry was on the phone in his office, speaking with... Read More
I'm lucky.When I was fifteen, I was the sole survivor... Read More
The one thing that is absolutely vital to overcoming shyness... Read More
Many times when an angry or rageful man comes into... Read More
Looking around at our circumstances we may see only mountains... Read More
Positive Affirmations are things we say to ourselves that build... Read More
How do you explain things to yourself? With positive self... Read More
One Friday in November, I began a journey from New... Read More
There is an old joke about a man who is... Read More
There are countless books that describe success principles. Here are... Read More
The infamous "glass ceiling" is blamed for business issues for... Read More
The invisible force surrounded him, squeezing tightly around his chest.... Read More
I get emails and questions from people all the time... Read More
You wake up in the morning sleepy and fatigued; the... Read More
"Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude... Read More
Knowing yourself is the foundation of self-esteem, self confidence and... Read More
Not Amen, just so we're clear on that.AND.The little connector... Read More
Do you really believe that there is anything in this... Read More
I went online -- and what do I see? A... Read More
group transportation logistics management Highland ..Do you wish you had high self-confidence? Some of us... Read More
You want to change your self-care habits and you can't... Read More
Most of us love to think that our problems are... Read More
Maureen worked in an office with twenty other people, processing... Read More
The power of positive thoughts to affect one's experience of... Read More
"Every prayer - every thought, every statement, every feeling -is... Read More
"Adventure isn't hanging on a rope off the side... Read More
Life can be downright scary - sometimes more than others.... Read More
Most of what we've been taught about how to be... Read More
"We can change our circumstances by a mere change of... Read More
One day while in deep meditation and self analysis, a... Read More
Q: I seem to beat myself before I ever get... Read More
Ever witnessed an incident that needed to be reported to... Read More
When we were children, we were fearless. We would stick... Read More
Problems, disappointments and trouble; the three skunks that sometimes think... Read More
Are you a person who loves challenges, or hates them?... Read More
WE ARE ALL THINKING ALL OF THE TIME.Can you believe... Read More
How many times have you heard someone say, "Hey, cheer... Read More
The summer I was 20 years old, I worked as... Read More
When I teach private Yoga sessions, sometimes, I become aware... Read More
I have had many confidence issues in my life, all... Read More
Changing your mindset can have a significant impact on achieving... Read More
You have probably noticed those people at work, school, and... Read More
Keep focusing on the fullness of your life: Keep remembering... Read More
Did you ever run into that person that just nags... Read More
Positive Attitude Tips |