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:
* What is going on?
* Does it remind you of other good times in your life?
* Can you list several of these earlier events?
* What were the best parts of these earlier experiences?
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.
* What are you seeing?
* What are the aromas?
* What are the sounds?
* How do these sensations make you feel?
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.
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://groups.yahoo.com/group/encself/join,
and sign up for her free e-group at 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 http://www.enchantedself.com/ordering.htm
|
