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
When I was little I was very busy--as I imagine... Read More
Humans tend to categorize things by large or small, bright... Read More
Have you ever been caught up in a thought that... Read More
There is a growing appreciation of the impact of psychic... Read More
In talking with a coaching client recently, she made a... Read More
Need a way to make your life a better place... Read More
"Most overnight successes are just plain lucky. Just ask any... Read More
I get emails and questions from people all the time... Read More
Do you realize that what we believe about ourselves, affects... Read More
"If you don't enjoy getting up and working and finishing... Read More
Words, Ignorance, and Casper The Friendly Ghost!Do your best to... Read More
Once we understand the difference our attitude makes in our... Read More
There are countless books that describe success principles. Here are... Read More
"There is an infinitely worthier subject for philosophers (to study)... Read More
A joke is a way of getting people to laugh.... Read More
Being the next Carmen Electra or Paris Hilton might or... Read More
By definition,an affirmation is a statement repeated time and again... Read More
Bosses can't control many things at work. In fact, they... Read More
Several years, I was listening to a radio talk show... Read More
Barry was on the phone in his office, speaking with... Read More
Do you know the problem with affirmations? You know, the... Read More
Life is an enigma...It starts without our knowledge, grows without... Read More
John Ryder awakens feeling rested, refreshed, and sensing a calm... Read More
I had a completely different idea for my main article... Read More
Our attitude makes seems to control just about everything about... Read More
high-end home cleaning Highland Park ..We all have a unique way of communicating our story,... Read More
Year after year I find more and more individuals saying... Read More
The mind absolutely amazes me. It will never be understood,... Read More
Q: I seem to beat myself before I ever get... Read More
Imagine the what you could achieve if:You were 100 %... Read More
Your ability to forgive those who have hurt you in... Read More
A balanced life not only leaves you feeling more fulfilled;... Read More
Byron and I started our first business full of enthusiasm... Read More
For the twelve hundred hostages, most especially Timur Kasumova.It's a... Read More
It really doesn't matter what your objectives are in this... Read More
You want to change your self-care habits and you can't... Read More
There are many dynamics that go into making a great... Read More
I have studied the idea of changing thoughts to create... Read More
If you think you are a loser, you train or... Read More
One often hears people say they can't sketch because they... Read More
Positive thinking in this day and age is a tool... Read More
I Hear Voices?This is not a statement of paranormal; it... Read More
No matter how positive a person we are overall, there... Read More
Want to improve your personal performance? Positive self-talk can help.Edward... Read More
The most dangerous thing is illusion. ~ Ralph Waldo EmersonFailure... Read More
They're out there? they look like people you know, but... Read More
I have a 440-page guide on how to simplify my... Read More
Wahms, do you constantly compare yourself with others and come... Read More
Many people would say that it is absolute madness to... Read More
Recently, a dear friend who has been both a coach... Read More
Positive Attitude Tips |