** How to Benefit From Affirmations (long, but worth reading!!)

[Guest guest]

" This book is a collection of letters I've received & answered over

the years from people all over the world. The letters express deep

concerns about many areas of life. Almost all of the people who have

written to me have wanted to change themselves -- and their world in

some way. In my replies, I have tried to be the catalyst that helps

these individuals accomplish their goals. I think of myself as a

stepping stone on a pathway of self-discovery. I create a space where

people can learn how wonderful they are by teaching them to love

themselves. That's all I do. I'm not a healer. I'm a person who

supports people. I help them discover their own power and inner

wisdom and strengths, and I help them get the blocks and the barriers

out of the way so they can love themselves no matter what their

circumstances.

Perhaps you will see some aspect of yourself in these pages. It is my

belief that by reading about other people's challenges and

aspirations, we can see ourselves and our own problems in different

ways. Sometimes we can use what we learn from others to make changes

in our lives. I hope this book will allow you to realize that you,

too, have the strength within to change, and to find solutions on

your own --- that is, to seek the answers that " are within you. "

Some of the ways to find the solutions within are through tools such

as affirmations, mirror work, and visualization.

For those of you who are not familiar with the benefits of positive

affirmations, I would like to explain a little about them. An

affirmation is really anything you say or think. A lot of what we

normally say and think is quite negative and does not create good

experiences for us. We have to re-train our thinking and speaking

into positive patterns if we want to change our lives.

When we talk about " doing " affirmations, we mean that we make a

positive statement about something we want to change in our lives.

Too often we say, " I don't want this in my life, " and we forget to

state clearly what we do want. To say, " I don't want to be sick

anymore " does not give the body a clear picture of the health we

would like to enjoy. Nor does saying " I hate this job " produce a

great new position. To create the new experiences we want, we need to

clearly declare our desires.

Affirmations are like planting seeds in the ground. First they

germinate, then they sprout roots, and then they shoot up through the

ground. It takes some time to go from a seed to a full-grown plant.

And so with affirmations, it takes some time from the first

declaration to the final demonstration. So be patient.

Mirror work is another valuable tool. Mirrors reflect the feelings we

have about ourselves. They clearly show us the areas that need to be

changed if we want a joyous, fulfilling life. The most powerful way

to do affirmations is to look in a mirror and say them out loud. I

ask people to look in their own eyes and say something positive about

themselves every time they pass a mirror. They are immediately aware

of any resistance and can move through it quicker.

Visualization is the process of using the imagination to achieve a

desired result. Put most simply, you see what you want to happen,

before it actually does happen. For example, if what you want is a

new place to live, picture a house, or an apartment that you want,

being as specific as possible. Then see it as if it were already

true. Affirm that you deserve it. See your new home with you in it

going about your daily routine. Imagine this as clearly as you can,

knowing that there is no wrong way to visualize. Practice your

visualization frequently, turning all results over to the Universal

Mind, {or God, Higher Power, or whatever}, and asking for your

highest good. Combined with positive affirmations, visualization is a

powerful tool.

Remember that through affirmations, mirror work, and visualization,

we can come to realize that the answers really ARE within us.

I have arranged the letters in this book by categories (listed

alphabetically) such as addictions, death/grief, family issues,

fears, relationships, and so forth. Each category is a chapter, and

there are 20 chapters in all. Each chapter begins with a meditation

and ends with affirmations to help you find your inner strength. At

the end of the book, you will find a Recommended Reading list and

Self-Help Resources for further growth and exploration. "

The passage above was the introduction of the book " Letters to

Louise " by Louise L. Hay, published by Hayhouse Inc., copyright 1999.

Available through: or through: www.hayhouse.com

or through your local bookstores. This is an excellent book and I

highly recommend it. This introduction summarizes the philosophy of

Louise Hay, and believe me, " It does work!! " Good Luck on your

journey! pj4mollyann