5 Weeks to a More Joyous Self Image

5 Weeks to a More Joyous Self Image

Results guaranteed or your money back.
When nothing else works.

Know That There is Enough

Know that there is enough for everyone. There is enough food, money, land, etc. Give generously of your time, skills and self.

Shift your focus from one of not enough, lack, and scarcity to one of abundance.

Try Looking at Things from a Different Angle

While at my sister's house one Easter Sunday, one of my crowns popped out while eating a piece of Easter chocolate that my niece had given me. It's happened before, and, while annoying, it's easily remedied. So, I wasn't too stressed out over it.

My niece, being the seven year old that she was, wanted to see it. So, I rinsed it off, showed it to her, and she exclaimed "A removable tooth??? COOL!!!" Who knew that restorative dental work could be so entertaining?

Challenge a Belief

Challenge a belief you have about yourself or the world.

Let's say your belief is that you can't manage your money. Notice how that belief makes you feel, physically and emotionally. Ask yourself "Is this true?" Then, ask yourself "Is this always true? My guess is that your answer is probably "no". Counter the belief with evidence to the contrary. Think of how many years you've managed to put a roof over your head and food in your belly, despite your financial circumstances at the time.

If you can't think of any evidence to disprove your belief, ask those who are supportive of you. One of my own personal beliefs that needed challenging from outside sources was that all people saw was my weight. It was during a weekend Martha Beck "Joy Diet" workshop and I hadn't met any of the other attendees previously. So I really got totally unbiased feedback on that belief. Not one person mentioned my weight as what they noticed about me. Some of the things that did get noticed were my energy, my enthusiasm and my sense of humor. It was a very eye-opening surprise. Try it sometime!

Identify People That Drain You vs. Those That Energize You

Some types of what I like to refer to as "energy vampires" are:

• The blamer - blames everyone and everything else for their problems, except themselves.
• The whiner - complains constantly, but never does anything about it.
• The know-it-all - knows everything and constantly challenges what you say.
• The belittler - this is the person who cuts you off, reprimands you and/or puts you down, sometimes in front of others, "for your own good".

You can tell when you've been around an "energy vampire", because you typically leave them feeling drained and/or bad about yourself.

People that fuel you, however:

• Appreciate you and your talents, gifts and strengths
• Communicate with you respectfully, without shaming or belittling you
• Pay attention to you, care about you, and what you have to say
• Are honest, and tell the truth

Give Yourself Permission to Make Bad Art

Up until around three years ago, I never attempted anything resembling art. This was mainly because I didn't know how to draw, and figured anything I attempted would look like a five year-old made it.

That all changed once I saw the paintings that graced the walls of my former therapist's office. Hideous does not even begin to describe them. It was then that I realized that nothing (and I do mean nothing) I attempted to draw or paint could ever turn out quite that ugly. So, I bought some art supplies and started experimenting.

Here's what I learned:

• I had more ability than I ever gave myself credit for having
• I was right. Nothing I attempted ever looked as hideous as the paintings in my therapist's waiting room.
• Most importantly, I learned that the process of making "bad art" is just as important and enjoyable as the end result.

The Joy of Art: A Creative Guide for Beginning Painters

Plug Up Energy Drains

Start by making a list of your procrastination items. An example of a list could be:

• Calling potential business leads
• Cards and letters I need to write and get in the mail
• Choosing and buying a new desk
• Moving to another city/state
• De-cluttering and cleaning my home
• Doing something with my craft supplies
• Reading all the books and magazines I have accumulated
• Paying off credit cards
• Making time for a spiritual and/or religious practice in my life

Once you've made your list, ask yourself what changes might happen in your life if you start eliminating them. Are you not handling them because you're afraid of these changes, or of letting go of old "stuff"?

Next, take your list and note next to each item which of the following three categories they fall into:

• Things only you can handle - like making phone calls, doctor appointments, moving, ending a relationship, exercising
• Things you can delegate or hire out - cleaning, filing, organizing, running errands
• Things you can just get rid of - the stack of unread magazines, clothes that no longer fit, old appliances, etc.

Handle the items you need to handle, delegate or hire out those that can be done by someone else, and just get rid of whatever you can, either by donating it, selling it on eBay or having a yard sale.

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