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
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