Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein is the originator of The Enchanted Self. She has been a positive psychologist in private practice and licensed in the states of New Jersey and Massachusetts since 1981.
Seven Gateways to Happiness for Us Women!
1. Discover and honor your talents, strengths, coping skills and potential
2. Love the story of your live and find ways to fall in love with who you are
3. Learn how to get your needs met
4. Take time to replenish, to enjoy life, and to find meaning and purpose everyday
5. Belong and don't isolate
6. Be a mentor and find mentors
7. Live generously. Do positive actions and good deeds
For those of you not that familiar with The Enchanted Self, and those of you that are, sit back and enjoy me sharing what The Enchanted Self is with Thor the Barbarian. This is a great show!
Dr. Barbara's Happiness for Women Only Radio Series
Listen to the Radio Show Archives
The Happiness for Women Only! series focuses on different age groups as seen below. We take a look at happiness as viewed through the lenses of The Seven Gateways to Happiness.
Dr. Barbara hosts this series, accompanied by her two outstanding guests: Dr. Sandra Prince-Embury, nationally know resiliency expert and author of The Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents and Martha Trowbridge, author of books on Inspiration For Women in Crisis.
"Getting to The Truth and More!" (20-35)
"Women and Wisdom Gathering" (Ages 36-49)
"Welcome the Enchanted AARP Woman!" (Ages 50 plus)
A wonderful discussion for all age groups!
My Books
THE TRUTH: I'm a Girl, I'm Smart and I Know Everything!
In the mothers' and daughters' version, this girl encapsulates the spark and energy that your daughter has inside of her, and that you had inside of yourself as a girl. It is this special capacity for fun and wisdom that we need to protect in our girls and get back to ourselves!
Let's rejoice in the girl inside of ourselves. Let's give courage and affirmation to our daughters and granddaughters so they know from the inside out, it is ok, in fact, essential to keep her alive, as they grow up.
The Truth, I'm 10, I'm Smart & I Know Everything.
The adult women's version is a delightful, humorous secret diary, written by a girl who is 10-11 years of age. She is wise and yet so innocent. She makes us cry and laugh and remember ourselves. Behind this very easy read is the psychological message to the women reading THE TRUTH that they can and must recapture the fire and passion of their girlhoods not only for themselves to flourish and be happy, but for the next generation to also have the gifts of good emotional and spiritual health.
This book is filled with emotional and delightful reminiscences that will charm you even as you are inspired to begin thinking of your own ways to bring delight into your hearts.
A collection of stories that is guaranteed to make you Feel Good. Click on the title to find out about the free gifts you will receive or here to learn more about the stories.
Recipes for Enchantment, The Secret Ingredient is YOU! is a culmination of over ten years of work and research in the field of personal enchantment by Dr. Barbara. She teaches us how to recall positive memories, regardless of our history, recognize our potential, and bring into our lives more of what gives us pleasure and joy. This is all combined with daily positive actions.
The Enchanted Self, A Positive Therapy
Through my work as a therapist, I have become concerned that we do not keep clearly enough how to reclaim what is positive about ourselves. This led me to write my book, The Enchanted Self, A Positive Therapy, published in 1997 by Harwood Academic Press. This book was probably the first and only book for mental health care providers and the interested public, to lay out the tools necessary to create a positive mind set and live an affirmative and affirming way of life!
Did You Hear What The Zen Master Said? Charlie Wilson's War
I just saw the movie, Charlie Wilson’s War. I was impressed with the Zen story told in the movie. Went something like this: There was this Zen Master in a small town. A boy received a horse as a birthday present when he was little and everyone said that was wonderful. The Zen Master said, "Maybe. Just wait." Then the boy fell off the horse and hurt his leg and everyone said that was bad. The Zen Master said, "Maybe. Just wait." Then there was a war and the boy didn’t have to go off and fight because his leg was too bad and everyone said that was great. The Zen Master said, "Maybe…"
This is a wonderful story as it emphasizes what we tend to forget. We often can’t see the whole picture about anything that is happening to ourselves or loved ones. Also we have trouble judging the consequences of our actions. Sometimes we think we accomplish nothing when we have actually saved someone’s life. For example, I may have called someone to say hi and never realized how down that person was until I called. Also we don’t know what other events will happen in the future making something uncomfortable in the present really a miracle later on. in my book, Recipes for Enchantment, The Secret Ingredient is YOU! I tell the story of a young boy who placated his Rabbi by walking in the woods with him and listening to his nature talks about all the plants. Then during the second world war the boy, now a young man, hide in the woods for two years. Without all the knowledge of plants and trees, etc. he would have died. See, you just never know. So the Zen Master is basically right, "Maybe, Just wait."
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein
Positive Psychologist
www.enchantedself.com
www.angelscribe.com is the place for Miracles!
The kitty went from alley cat status, to a pampered French villa!
May you have such miracles in your life!
Mary Ellen "Angel Scribe"
Tang Wei speaks the language of THE ENCHANTED SELF
In the August Vogue, 2007 Caroline Palmer interviewed Tang Wei. Here is a quote from that article, "A self-professed tomboy, Tang says adopting a higher profile has been a seamless adjustment. "there is an old saying in China: Each year, we grow more branches and show more leaves, but our trunk remains unchanged. Who we are fundamentally is always there.’"
I totally agree with Tang Wei. When I help people sing their Song Of Their Soul I ask them to rediscover what is most central and essential about themselves already. What is most important to them? What is most core to their belief system? As they look for what is already there and find ways to enhance their own talents, strengths, interests, passions, etc. they come closer to themselves but also more and more capable of greater tasks and accomplishments. I talk more about this in my book, THE ENCHANTED SELF, A Positive Therapy.
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, www.enchantedself.com
Comments by Al Gore Receiving the Nobel Prize
Receiving the Nobel Prize today,Al Gore said, "If you want to go quickly go alone. If you want to go far go together." He mentioned that this is an African Proverb.
This wonderful quote is a great Recipe for Happiness. As a Positive Psychologist I know how important it is to be connected to others and not to isolate. On the other hand, sometimes we need to move quickly on something and we should go alone. In fact, if we wait for others, the moment may pass. The result can be terrible if we had a certain window of opportunity and blew it. Yet, if we really want to make significant changes in the world we live in and/or want to bring happiness and delight into daily living than we must join up with others. No one can do a complicated task or create a harmonious environment alone. As they say, "It takes two to tango" and "It takes a whole village to raise a child."
Any complete Recipe for Happiness takes the courage to move quickly alone when necessary and the wisdom to share our important tasks and pleasures in life with others.
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, www.enchantedself.com
A Young Girl's Diary-Ginger May-age 11
Ginger May, Preface
"This isn’t a real book. Its’s a diary. ..and it’s going to be finished when I’m married. .When my love story comes in it will be interesting, but I’m only eleven now….There’s really nothing interesting like the divorce in ‘Mary Marie’ but something might happen. You never can tell. Anyway, you”ll see because this isn’t a book, I mean diary. This is only the preface…"
Ginger May was the late mother of Dr. Lucinda Seares, a wonderful psychologist in New Jersey. Her mother kept this diary for many years, I think until she married, as she had promised, and a love story emerged. I’ll be sharing excerpts from Ginger May and I hope you will enjoy them and comment. There is a diary and a love story in each of us! What’s yours? You know about the girl in THE TRUTH, I’m Ten, I’m Smart and I Know Everythng! She certainly shares her love story.
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, www.enchantedself.com