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A TASTE OF ENCHANTMENT: MARCH 2001 SPECIAL EDITION

"Achieving Positive States of Mind and Body Again and Again"

Produced by Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein : Psychologist, Life Coach, and Originator of THE ENCHANTED SELF(R)

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Welcome to the mid-month publication of The Enchanted Self's e-newsletter!  Each month I will focus on (and respond to) a question about enchantment and/or a reader's ideas on enchantment.

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Question of the Month

"How do I find enchantment in this sometimes dreary season, when all I can think about is Spring?"

That is such a good question and, I think, one we have all pondered.  I would like to focus this mini-newsletter on the power of our positive memories.  Even for those of us who have had rough times in the past, we can find golden nuggets that give us information about who we are and what our potential is to have fun and delight in our lives.

Spring into Enchantment:

By Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein

Just to get your started thinking 'Spring', remember the wonderful positive memory treasure chests that lurk inside of you, just waiting to be reviewed.  As you begin to spring into enchantment, it is in these memory chests that you will recognize your special interests and preferences. Your positive memories can help you frame out what you would like to do this season.

Here is an exercise to get you started:

Close your eyes and let your mind wander back to something that you loved to do as a child in the spring.  Did you like to climb trees?  Did you like to ride a bike?  Go fishing?  Run?  Catch lightning bugs at night?  Think about the way your body felt as you did this activity. 

Think about how you felt when the activity was over.

Now list some of the skills that were necessary to perform that activity. For example, if you used to love to climb trees, some of the skills might have been agility or arm strength to lift yourself onto branches. Another skill was probably good balance.

Do you still have these skills? If so, what would you like to try at this stage of your life that might let you get back in touch with the physical pleasures that you were so naturally in touch with as a child … perhaps dancing or lifting weights or rock climbing? Whatever your physical pleasure may have been, lift it out, dust it off, and use it.  And most important, enjoy!

If you do not have these skills, what are some alternatives?  Perhaps rather than tree climbing, you could stretch in all directions, lying on a mat or on a soft carpet.  This will require much less in the way of balance or risk-taking. Perhaps you would enjoy a risk-taking adventure via a book, movie or a computer game. Reinvention of yourself in order to experience pleasure is a never ending pursuit.

This article is based on one that was printed in the Story Circle Journal.

Perhaps you found a treasure in your past that you can revitalize for this spring.  Perhaps not, but an alternative has emerged.   Please give us the pleasure of sharing your responses.  They may be posted on the web site or in future issues of the newsletter.  You can also chat about this topic or create your own in The Enchanted Self e-group at the following URL: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/encself

Reminder: Free teleclass!

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Have a wonderful March!

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FORWARDING & REPRINTING

(C) 2001 Copyright The Enchanted Self - All rights reserved.

Please feel free to pass this issue on to someone who might enjoy it.  The Enchanted Self Newsletter is copyrighted but may be quoted, reprinted, or distributed in whole or part without prior permission, provided the content is not changed and attribution is given including:

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein

THE ENCHANTED SELF(R)

We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as self-healing and professional psychology newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission and send us a sample issue.

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To learn more about THE ENCHANTED SELF(R) - A State of Well Being, Joy, and Happiness, please contact me or visit my web site.

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