I started life writing in the fifth grade. My mother bought me my own Girl Shout diary! Are you wondering what a Girl Shout diary is? It was a Girl Scout diary kept by me. I had a minor learning disability, undiagnosed in those days, resulting in funny spellings. Undaunted, I wrote to Dear Diary, sharing the best of I Love Lucy, visits with grandparents, and weekly meeting with the Girl Scouts. Then one day this dairy was put away. Junior High School, High School and college were years when
I took pen to hand on loose leaf papers. I kept details of my love life, shed many a secret tear and wrote some of my finest, darkest poetry. Adult life found me writing on fragments of papers. These scraps housed everything from cute expressions my children used to my less dark poetry.
When I decided as a psychologist to interview women who were not in my practice, then incorporate my findings into a book, I never dreamed how much my own life writings would play an essential part. I had interviewed women ages 35 through early 80's, looking at how messages they received growing up about themselves, influenced them as adults. I asked them when they felt most whole, most joyful. In analyzing my data, I had an "Aha" moment. I saw these women, no matter how dysfunctional their childhoods, and no matter how many negative messages they had received growing up, had managed to find pleasure and joy in their adult lives. This insight convinced me that we have not utilized the history taking of our lives to focus enough on what is giving us pleasure and joy. Also we haven't learned to harvest out past so as to discover precious moments even in the most dysfunctional of times. This included me.
In writing THE ENCHANTED SELF, A Positive Therapy, I began writing about my past and experiences again, but this time looking for precious treasure: the positive parts of myself and my life. In writing down my thoughts, feelings and memories, I discovered many wonderful memories growing up. I found myself remembering times where I felt delighted with life and full of energy. There were moments of elation and successes when my true and sometimes lost potential showed through. I discovered events that even though they had felt unpleasant as I lived them, held within them so many of special gifts. I began to hold and treasure these times as I wrote them down, feeling deeply moved on occasion, to the point of tears ...
Ultimately what the women taught me and the personal journey I then went on, has led to my writing to you. I hope this e-mail newsletter stimulates you to recognize the best in yourself, in your history, and in your potential. For you too, have a treasury inside.
Exercise: Journaling
This exercise involves making positive deposits in your memory banks. Over the next few days, stay alert to when you are in a good mood. Try to use all you senses to experience the present more fully, especially when you become aware of a potential 'deposit'. When the moment is right, ask yourself the following questions:
Take the time to describe them by writing them down or dictating them into a tape recorder. Now gradually refocus your mind on the present.
Try to be aware of the details, taking time to savor them as you deposit them into your memory bank. If writing or dictating a narrative does not come easily to you, try drawing a picture, writing a poem, or composing a tune. Just do something to capture the moment in a way that is meaningful to you. Your abilities as an artist, writer, or composer are less important than your desire to relish life.
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 website. http://www.enchantedself.com
Oswego taxi to Midway ..Empty, Hollow, Nothing?.those words shout the sound of disappointment and... Read More
Living without limits. Living your life to the fullest. Living... Read More
For the twelve hundred hostages, most especially Timur Kasumova.It's a... Read More
We have often missed the mark because we believe we... Read More
Turn brutality into kindness. There is no small deed and... Read More
I have studied the idea of changing thoughts to create... Read More
A balanced life not only leaves you feeling more fulfilled;... Read More
A Yale University study a few years ago revealed that... Read More
"Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude... Read More
You wake up in the morning sleepy and fatigued; the... Read More
Not Amen, just so we're clear on that.AND.The little connector... Read More
If you work toward what you dream, the dream can... Read More
There are times in all of our lives where our... Read More
The surge of emotions.During the middle ages, the court jester... Read More
There is no such thing as failure ? only feedback... Read More
Hey gang; Ok it's time to create some good habits.... Read More
I had a completely different idea for my main article... Read More
Inevitably in life we will face disappointment from time to... Read More
Distortions are False Beliefs Programmed every Day by Self and... Read More
It is widely believed that just anybody has the intrinsic... Read More
"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't... Read More
"A person is limited only by the thoughts that he... Read More
WE ARE ALL THINKING ALL OF THE TIME.Can you believe... Read More
I went online -- and what do I see? A... Read More
James Allen, who wrote the masterpiece, As a Man Thinketh,... Read More
shuttle from Midway Morris .."If you don't enjoy getting up and working and finishing... Read More
(The following is an actual email conversation between Newton Hightower,... Read More
Human nature is created so that you can choose your... Read More
Your response (reaction?) to change is conditioned by your entire... Read More
I was a young girl aged 12, when the one... Read More
Turn brutality into kindness. There is no small deed and... Read More
Today, I wanted to mention this notion of self-sabotage.I recently... Read More
In speaking of comparison we need to be aware that... Read More
Have you ever considered that you may be subconsciously sabotaging... Read More
I don't know about you, but for me, the technological... Read More
There are times in all of our lives where our... Read More
"Those people who think they can do something and those... Read More
James Allen, who wrote the masterpiece, As a Man Thinketh,... Read More
In many ways the Star War movies are simply a... Read More
Once upon a time, I was a vibrant, youthful teenager...My... Read More
The Alchemists of old worked over many years, centuries, in... Read More
In the latest and final Star Wars saga, Anakin Skywalker... Read More
One often hears people say they can't sketch because they... Read More
Near the end of December 2004, I received an email... Read More
From Making the Big Move: how to transform relocation into... Read More
What is an affirmation? One possible definition is a specific... Read More
Before we are able to use the Universal Thought System... Read More
"For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is... Read More
When I teach private Yoga sessions, sometimes, I become aware... Read More
As a trainer of coaches I often teach my students... Read More
Positive Attitude Tips |