Re: Give Yourself Positive, Nurturing Messages

[Guest guest]

,

You are " right on target " with this message! To me, the negative seeps

in deep inside me, and I feel it immensely! The positive messages seem to kinda

bounce off me and either I don't hear them, or I do hear them, but they don't

" take " or sink in and stay with me. (my youngest daughter is the same way)!

I just had to print this article out as it was so good, and I used the last of

my ink doing it!! Thanks for sharing! Gotta go buy more ink for my printer

tomorrow! Hugs, PJ

RareBreeeze@... wrote:

Give Yourself Positive, Nurturing Messages

by Cheryl Rainfield

I don't know about you, but I find that negative or hurtful messages zing

their way into me faster and easier than positive ones. If, in an hour, seven

people gave me real, glowing compliments, and one person criticized me, it is

the

criticism that I would notice, absorb, and obsess on for weeks. It is the

criticism that I would turn over and over, looking at from all angles, like a

misshapen stone.

It's not hard to find criticism. It's all around us--in the way the media

says our bodies should be perfect. In people judging how we live, because they

feel insecure about themselves. And of course, perhaps most powerfully, are all

the negative messages we were taught and given as children, critical messages

that we still play through our minds.

So how do we turn the tide on this wave of negative messages? An important

factor is purposely looking for and including positive messages in your life, on

a regular basis. You deserve to see your own beauty--and to be as happy as

you can be.

Give yourself the gift of loving, positive messages:

* Recognize and acknowledge some good things about yourself. Write out a list

of things that you like about yourself, or that other people have told you

they like about you. Write as many as you can. Then go through each one. Think

about it. Acknowledge it. Accept it and take it in. Putting your energy into

this, and really opening yourself up to this, can help you heal some old hurts,

and work towards opening yourself up to more positive messages.

* Praise yourself as you would a child. Kids need praise and positive

feedback to feel good about themselves, and we give that freely to kids. Well,

adults

need it, too. So whenever you do something that you would appreciate or like

in a child...being kind to someone else, being tender, standing up for

yourself or someone else, doing something that feels good, accomplishing

something

big or small...then give yourself some praise. Don't be stingy with praise.

Lavish it on you the way you would a child. Acknowledge the wonderfulness in

you,

and make a habit of it. It really will help you feel better.

* Allow real compliments and praise to sink in there. Allowing compliments

and praise to really touch you, including the ones you give yourself, is

something you may have to consciously do, but it's important to do. If you have

trouble keeping hold of the good things people say, write them down, then look

at

them often.

* Read affirmations that appeal to you. Read some affirmations from a book,

online, or from affirmation cards, or write your own. Just read the ones that

feel like they fit you, that have messages you need to hear. Do this often, so

you open up to the messages.

* Associate an object with a positive message about you. Pick an object,

preferably a small one, one that you like or that makes you feel good--maybe a

stone, a book, a note, a little toy that you can carry around with you. Now

think

of a positive message about yourself--just one--and repeat it over and over

while you look at the object. Tell yourself that whenever you look at that

object, you'll be reminded of that positive message about yourself.

* Put positive messages all around you. Write out positive, loving messages

and put them in places you'll find them--inside books, on your computer screen,

in your wallet, in your pockets. Put them on your refrigerator or mirror.

* Choose the words you use for yourself purposefully. Words have a powerful

impact on how we feel and think about ourselves and others. Words can hurt,

flatten, and wound. Words can also encourage, empower, heal. Choose words, when

you think about yourself, that are positive, kind, and loving.

* Listen to alternative, healing music. If you only look for one song, check

out Libby Roderick's " How Could Anyone, " on her cd If You See a Dream. The

lyrics are a powerful, healing affirmation: " How could anyone ever tell you, you

were anything less than beautiful, how could anyone ever tell you, you were

less than whole? "

* Listen to children's music. I'm not kidding. There are some wonderful,

empowering, encouraging children's songs. Check out " Proud of Me " and " Me " sung

by

Sesame Street's Grover on " The Best of Grover " ; " Happy Place, " " It's okay, "

" Sing a happy song, " " We'll Fill the World With Love, " amd " What a wonderful

world " by Rosenshontz, " Believe in Yourself, " " But I Like You, " by Sesame

Street;

* Read a book or comic strip that makes you feel good. Feeling good helps get

you into that receptive space where you can take in good messages. A book

that always makes me feel good, and gives me positive, healing messages is 39

Ways to Open Your Heart by Arlene Gay Levine and Kroll. The messages are

like healing affirmations, and the artwork is stunning.

Another of my favourite things to read when I want a huge splash of good

feeling is any of the Rose Is Rose collected comic strips. They affirm the

playful

child in me, and usually reading them in large doses (such as a book) leave

me feeling happy. You can check out thirty days of the comic strip here, or

check out these Rose Is Rose email greetings that give you the feel of what the

comic is all about.

* Write yourself a loving letter. Write yourself a letter that mentions all

the things you love about yourself. Go into as much detail as you want. If you

have trouble writing it, think of a friend who loves you, and try to write it

from their perspective. Then mail yourself the letter.

Repeatedly telling positive messages to yourself, and taking them in, can

work to build up your love for yourself, and help you to be more open to the

good

things within you, and around you. It can also build up your resistance to

critical, hurtful messages, and help you to feel happier. So what are you

waiting for? Give yourself a positive message right now. And believe it.

Resources:

* Levine, Arlene Gay and Kroll. 39 Ways to Open Your Heart, Conari

Press: California, 1996. A beautiful book with loving, healing messages that

read

like meditations, and stunning, beautiful artwork. It seems to be temporarily

out of print, but you can usually find copies at AbeBooks.com * Rose Is Rose,

30 days online Rose Is Rose email greetings * watch some of my affirmation

cards online * Libby Roderick's " How Could Anyone " song

© 2002 Cheryl Rainfield is an artist and writer. She has a site on loving

yourself that offers free whimsical e-cards, a screensaver, articles, and

virtual

affirmation cards online. http://www.CherylRainfield.com

[Guest guest]

Good timing ...I needed this.

Love & Laughter,

Andie

[Guest guest]

This mail made me think about something. How I do to keep positive.

But when I want to shut myself off from negatives, I actually simply turn

OFF the TV, radio and refuse to get any kind of input from newspapers and

magazines. I select my input from " how the world looks like " , very, very

careful.

Have you tried this? Just for about a week?

I figure that the news doesn't really communate how the world really is.

It's very disorted construction of the world, not showing have many people

that actually smiles per day. Love, helping, caring. No, the news is

carefully selected to make us aware of... well, you tell me! Does the

world *really* looks like that? Sure, if we let it.

I have realized that I have learned more about the negativity in the world

from the news, than ANY other source. Because even from the most

misserable individual and no matter how you feel yourself, at least there

is an opening for a meeting of two soules that can give a little comfort

for a while. The one-way news doesn't really give that option. Does it?

Just my 2 cents.

/A.

----- Original Message -----

>

>

>

>

> Give Yourself Positive, Nurturing Messages

> by Cheryl Rainfield

>

> I don't know about you, but I find that negative or hurtful messages zing

> their way into me faster and easier than positive ones. If, in an hour,

> seven

> people gave me real, glowing compliments, and one person criticized me, it

> is the

> criticism that I would notice, absorb, and obsess on for weeks. It is the

> criticism that I would turn over and over, looking at from all angles,

> like a

> misshapen stone.

>

> It's not hard to find criticism. It's all around us--in the way the media

> says our bodies should be perfect. In people judging how we live, because

> they

> feel insecure about themselves. And of course, perhaps most powerfully,

> are all

> the negative messages we were taught and given as children, critical

> messages

> that we still play through our minds.

>

> So how do we turn the tide on this wave of negative messages? An important

> factor is purposely looking for and including positive messages in your

> life, on

> a regular basis. You deserve to see your own beauty--and to be as happy as

> you can be.

>

> Give yourself the gift of loving, positive messages:

>

> * Recognize and acknowledge some good things about yourself. Write out a

> list

> of things that you like about yourself, or that other people have told you

> they like about you. Write as many as you can. Then go through each one.

> Think

> about it. Acknowledge it. Accept it and take it in. Putting your energy

> into

> this, and really opening yourself up to this, can help you heal some old

> hurts,

> and work towards opening yourself up to more positive messages.

>

> * Praise yourself as you would a child. Kids need praise and positive

> feedback to feel good about themselves, and we give that freely to kids.

> Well, adults

> need it, too. So whenever you do something that you would appreciate or

> like

> in a child...being kind to someone else, being tender, standing up for

> yourself or someone else, doing something that feels good, accomplishing

> something

> big or small...then give yourself some praise. Don't be stingy with

> praise.

> Lavish it on you the way you would a child. Acknowledge the wonderfulness

> in you,

> and make a habit of it. It really will help you feel better.

>

> * Allow real compliments and praise to sink in there. Allowing compliments

> and praise to really touch you, including the ones you give yourself, is

> something you may have to consciously do, but it's important to do. If you

> have

> trouble keeping hold of the good things people say, write them down, then

> look at

> them often.

>

> * Read affirmations that appeal to you. Read some affirmations from a

> book,

> online, or from affirmation cards, or write your own. Just read the ones

> that

> feel like they fit you, that have messages you need to hear. Do this

> often, so

> you open up to the messages.

>

> * Associate an object with a positive message about you. Pick an object,

> preferably a small one, one that you like or that makes you feel

> good--maybe a

> stone, a book, a note, a little toy that you can carry around with you.

> Now think

> of a positive message about yourself--just one--and repeat it over and

> over

> while you look at the object. Tell yourself that whenever you look at that

> object, you'll be reminded of that positive message about yourself.

>

> * Put positive messages all around you. Write out positive, loving

> messages

> and put them in places you'll find them--inside books, on your computer

> screen,

> in your wallet, in your pockets. Put them on your refrigerator or mirror.

>

> * Choose the words you use for yourself purposefully. Words have a

> powerful

> impact on how we feel and think about ourselves and others. Words can

> hurt,

> flatten, and wound. Words can also encourage, empower, heal. Choose words,

> when

> you think about yourself, that are positive, kind, and loving.

>

> * Listen to alternative, healing music. If you only look for one song,

> check

> out Libby Roderick's & quot;How Could Anyone, & quot; on her cd If You See a

> Dream. The

> lyrics are a powerful, healing affirmation: & quot;How could anyone ever

> tell you, you

> were anything less than beautiful, how could anyone ever tell you, you

> were

> less than whole? & quot;

>

> * Listen to children's music. I'm not kidding. There are some wonderful,

> empowering, encouraging children's songs. Check out & quot;Proud of

> Me & quot; and & quot;Me & quot; sung by

> Sesame Street's Grover on & quot;The Best of Grover & quot;; & quot;Happy

> Place, & quot; & quot;It's okay, & quot;

> & quot;Sing a happy song, & quot; & quot;We'll Fill the World With Love, & quot;

> amd & quot;What a wonderful

> world & quot; by Rosenshontz, & quot;Believe in Yourself, & quot; & quot;But I

> Like You, & quot; by Sesame

> Street;

>

> * Read a book or comic strip that makes you feel good. Feeling good helps

> get

> you into that receptive space where you can take in good messages. A book

> that always makes me feel good, and gives me positive, healing messages is

> 39

> Ways to Open Your Heart by Arlene Gay Levine and Kroll. The messages

> are

> like healing affirmations, and the artwork is stunning.

>

> Another of my favourite things to read when I want a huge splash of good

> feeling is any of the Rose Is Rose collected comic strips. They affirm the

> playful

> child in me, and usually reading them in large doses (such as a book)

> leave

> me feeling happy. You can check out thirty days of the comic strip here,

> or

> check out these Rose Is Rose email greetings that give you the feel of

> what the

> comic is all about.

>

> * Write yourself a loving letter. Write yourself a letter that mentions

> all

> the things you love about yourself. Go into as much detail as you want. If

> you

> have trouble writing it, think of a friend who loves you, and try to write

> it

> from their perspective. Then mail yourself the letter.

>

> Repeatedly telling positive messages to yourself, and taking them in, can

> work to build up your love for yourself, and help you to be more open to

> the good

> things within you, and around you. It can also build up your resistance to

> critical, hurtful messages, and help you to feel happier. So what are you

> waiting for? Give yourself a positive message right now. And believe it.

>

> Resources:

>

> * Levine, Arlene Gay and Kroll. 39 Ways to Open Your Heart, Conari

> Press: California, 1996. A beautiful book with loving, healing messages

> that read

> like meditations, and stunning, beautiful artwork. It seems to be

> temporarily

> out of print, but you can usually find copies at AbeBooks.com * Rose Is

> Rose,

> 30 days online Rose Is Rose email greetings * watch some of my affirmation

> cards online * Libby Roderick's & quot;How Could Anyone & quot; song

>

> © 2002 Cheryl Rainfield is an artist and writer. She has a site on loving

> yourself that offers free whimsical e-cards, a screensaver, articles, and

> virtual

> affirmation cards online. http://www.CherylRainfield.com 

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Andre,

I totally agree with you! It is good to keep up with what's going on

in the world -- to a degree -- because so much has been going on the last few

years. But, to watch it day in and day out -- is a major " downer " . It is a

shame that the news won't have any " feel good " stories, or people who have

overcome something, or who have helped someone! I wonder why that is -- maybe

cause they don't think that will sell their advertising, as the awful

catastrophic news will?! Just a thought! Thanks for sharing!! PJ

Andre wrote:

This mail made me think about something. How I do to keep positive.

But when I want to shut myself off from negatives, I actually simply turn

OFF the TV, radio and refuse to get any kind of input from newspapers and

magazines. I select my input from " how the world looks like " , very, very

careful.

Have you tried this? Just for about a week?

I figure that the news doesn't really communate how the world really is.

It's very disorted construction of the world, not showing have many people

that actually smiles per day. Love, helping, caring. No, the news is

carefully selected to make us aware of... well, you tell me! Does the

world *really* looks like that? Sure, if we let it.

I have realized that I have learned more about the negativity in the world

from the news, than ANY other source. Because even from the most

misserable individual and no matter how you feel yourself, at least there

is an opening for a meeting of two soules that can give a little comfort

for a while. The one-way news doesn't really give that option. Does it?

Just my 2 cents.

/A.

----- Original Message -----

>

>

>

>

> Give Yourself Positive, Nurturing Messages

> by Cheryl Rainfield

>

> I don't know about you, but I find that negative or hurtful messages zing

> their way into me faster and easier than positive ones. If, in an hour,

> seven

> people gave me real, glowing compliments, and one person criticized me, it

> is the

> criticism that I would notice, absorb, and obsess on for weeks. It is the

> criticism that I would turn over and over, looking at from all angles,

> like a

> misshapen stone.

>

> It's not hard to find criticism. It's all around us--in the way the media

> says our bodies should be perfect. In people judging how we live, because

> they

> feel insecure about themselves. And of course, perhaps most powerfully,

> are all

> the negative messages we were taught and given as children, critical

> messages

> that we still play through our minds.

>

> So how do we turn the tide on this wave of negative messages? An important

> factor is purposely looking for and including positive messages in your

> life, on

> a regular basis. You deserve to see your own beauty--and to be as happy as

> you can be.

>

> Give yourself the gift of loving, positive messages:

>

> * Recognize and acknowledge some good things about yourself. Write out a

> list

> of things that you like about yourself, or that other people have told you

> they like about you. Write as many as you can. Then go through each one.

> Think

> about it. Acknowledge it. Accept it and take it in. Putting your energy

> into

> this, and really opening yourself up to this, can help you heal some old

> hurts,

> and work towards opening yourself up to more positive messages.

>

> * Praise yourself as you would a child. Kids need praise and positive

> feedback to feel good about themselves, and we give that freely to kids.

> Well, adults

> need it, too. So whenever you do something that you would appreciate or

> like

> in a child...being kind to someone else, being tender, standing up for

> yourself or someone else, doing something that feels good, accomplishing

> something

> big or small...then give yourself some praise. Don't be stingy with

> praise.

> Lavish it on you the way you would a child. Acknowledge the wonderfulness

> in you,

> and make a habit of it. It really will help you feel better.

>

> * Allow real compliments and praise to sink in there. Allowing compliments

> and praise to really touch you, including the ones you give yourself, is

> something you may have to consciously do, but it's important to do. If you

> have

> trouble keeping hold of the good things people say, write them down, then

> look at

> them often.

>

> * Read affirmations that appeal to you. Read some affirmations from a

> book,

> online, or from affirmation cards, or write your own. Just read the ones

> that

> feel like they fit you, that have messages you need to hear. Do this

> often, so

> you open up to the messages.

>

> * Associate an object with a positive message about you. Pick an object,

> preferably a small one, one that you like or that makes you feel

> good--maybe a

> stone, a book, a note, a little toy that you can carry around with you.

> Now think

> of a positive message about yourself--just one--and repeat it over and

> over

> while you look at the object. Tell yourself that whenever you look at that

> object, you'll be reminded of that positive message about yourself.

>

> * Put positive messages all around you. Write out positive, loving

> messages

> and put them in places you'll find them--inside books, on your computer

> screen,

> in your wallet, in your pockets. Put them on your refrigerator or mirror.

>

> * Choose the words you use for yourself purposefully. Words have a

> powerful

> impact on how we feel and think about ourselves and others. Words can

> hurt,

> flatten, and wound. Words can also encourage, empower, heal. Choose words,

> when

> you think about yourself, that are positive, kind, and loving.

>

> * Listen to alternative, healing music. If you only look for one song,

> check

> out Libby Roderick's & quot;How Could Anyone, & quot; on her cd If You See a

> Dream. The

> lyrics are a powerful, healing affirmation: & quot;How could anyone ever

> tell you, you

> were anything less than beautiful, how could anyone ever tell you, you

> were

> less than whole? & quot;

>

> * Listen to children's music. I'm not kidding. There are some wonderful,

> empowering, encouraging children's songs. Check out & quot;Proud of

> Me & quot; and & quot;Me & quot; sung by

> Sesame Street's Grover on & quot;The Best of Grover & quot;; & quot;Happy

> Place, & quot; & quot;It's okay, & quot;

> & quot;Sing a happy song, & quot; & quot;We'll Fill the World With Love, & quot;

> amd & quot;What a wonderful

> world & quot; by Rosenshontz, & quot;Believe in Yourself, & quot; & quot;But I

> Like You, & quot; by Sesame

> Street;

>

> * Read a book or comic strip that makes you feel good. Feeling good helps

> get

> you into that receptive space where you can take in good messages. A book

> that always makes me feel good, and gives me positive, healing messages is

> 39

> Ways to Open Your Heart by Arlene Gay Levine and Kroll. The messages

> are

> like healing affirmations, and the artwork is stunning.

>

> Another of my favourite things to read when I want a huge splash of good

> feeling is any of the Rose Is Rose collected comic strips. They affirm the

> playful

> child in me, and usually reading them in large doses (such as a book)

> leave

> me feeling happy. You can check out thirty days of the comic strip here,

> or

> check out these Rose Is Rose email greetings that give you the feel of

> what the

> comic is all about.

>

> * Write yourself a loving letter. Write yourself a letter that mentions

> all

> the things you love about yourself. Go into as much detail as you want. If

> you

> have trouble writing it, think of a friend who loves you, and try to write

> it

> from their perspective. Then mail yourself the letter.

>

> Repeatedly telling positive messages to yourself, and taking them in, can

> work to build up your love for yourself, and help you to be more open to

> the good

> things within you, and around you. It can also build up your resistance to

> critical, hurtful messages, and help you to feel happier. So what are you

> waiting for? Give yourself a positive message right now. And believe it.

>

> Resources:

>

> * Levine, Arlene Gay and Kroll. 39 Ways to Open Your Heart, Conari

> Press: California, 1996. A beautiful book with loving, healing messages

> that read

> like meditations, and stunning, beautiful artwork. It seems to be

> temporarily

> out of print, but you can usually find copies at AbeBooks.com * Rose Is

> Rose,

> 30 days online Rose Is Rose email greetings * watch some of my affirmation

> cards online * Libby Roderick's & quot;How Could Anyone & quot; song

>

> © 2002 Cheryl Rainfield is an artist and writer. She has a site on loving

> yourself that offers free whimsical e-cards, a screensaver, articles, and

> virtual

> affirmation cards online. http://www.CherylRainfield.com

>

>

>