Home  E-zine Archives  Sign up

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~    

ENCHANTMENT IN AN E-MAIL - MAY 2002        

"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)       

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~         

Welcome to the monthly publication of The Enchanted Self's e-newsletter!  The following is what you will find in this month's issue.  

Recipe for Enchantment #23

Here are some wonderful treats.  Any one or several of them can make a wonderful Recipe for Enchantment.  Some are easy and some take a small miracle.  Some, I am sure, you have already tasted and the joy can just be in the savoring once again in your mind and heart.  Some, you may still be wishing for. They say visualizing what you desire can help make it a reality.  So go ahead and indulge yourself.

Here is a list of treats: (Feel free to add to them.)  

-- Ed Aberdeen shared parts of this list with me.  I took the liberty of leaving some of his list off and adding my own.  After all, that's what great cooking and living is all about!

Article: You Never Know What Affect You Will Have On Someone!

by Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein

I was moved listening to Steve Hartmen on CBS News.  He did one of his "Everyone Has a Story" and the lady he found certainly did.  A dart, thrown randomly at a map of the United States landed in Wisconsin .  Opening a phone book randomly led to a woman in a small Wisconsin town.  Steve was off to talk to her!  At first, she tried to beg off and actually told him that he was violating her privacy, but after they talked for an hour she shared a story that she had never told anyone.

About ten years ago, after her mother had just died and her husband had suddenly walked out on her, she was feeling very low.  In fact, she kept thinking about a bottle of pills in her bathroom that she wanted to swallow all at once.  She felt so terrible that she walked toward the bathroom to do just that, then suddenly the phone rang.  It was an uncle of hers just checking in to see how she was doing.  She lied, talked awhile and then got off the phone to continue.  She walked toward the bathroom, when the phone rang again.  This time it was another relative calling out of the blue to see how she was doing.  Again she lied and when she could finally get off the phone she walked down the hall toward the bathroom. Unbelievably the phone rang a third time.  Now it was a friend from high school that hadn't called in years who was just checking in.

Well, this time, when she hung up, she didn't go back toward the bathroom.  She told Steve, that never, did she get three calls that close in a row--in fact the phone sometimes didn't ring for days.  She realized that these calls were somehow meant to keep her alive. In fact, she felt that the last caller had saved her life.  She never attempted to take her life again.

Steve then went and found the woman who made the third phone call.  He asked her if she was aware that she saved her friend's life.  She was totally unaware, and just barely remembered calling to say 'hello.'

This real life story, told for the first time, is incredible. Not only does it suggest the hand of the Divine, but also teaches us that we must act positively and in a timely fashion.  Even the great Divine needs our assistance!  We must be in each other's best interests.  We must take the time to check in, to say hello, to see how each other are.  We never know how much power the simplest gesture may be making on someone else.  Certainly, I have been profoundly influenced by other people's acts of kindness.

Here's my story--at least the one that comes to me.  I remember I was in a play when I was eight.  Actually, I had a walk on part, as a 'child' in A Streetcar Named Desire at the local college.  The director, Mr. Dickenson, (Can you believe I remember his name?) sent me some flowers and a note thanking me for being in the show and doing a great job.

How hard was it for an eight year old to play an eight year old and walk across the stage holding a lady's hand?  In any case, he thought that my acting was worth noting.  Do you know how good I felt?  How many times I read that note and memorized it?  How special he made me feel?  No wonder I remember his name.  Thank you, Mr. Dickenson!

Let's all try to reach out--not only do we all have our stories but we can all wave such wonderful magic wands for each other!

Exercise: Play-dates with Enchantment  

This exercise involves making positive deposits into your memory bank.  Over the next few days, stay alert to when you are in a good mood.  Try to use all of your senses to experience the present more fully, especially when you become aware of a 'potential deposit'.  When the moment is right, ask yourself the following questions:

Take the time to describe them, perhaps writing them down or dictating them into a tape recorder.  Now gradually refocus your mind on the present.

Try to be aware of the details, taking the time to savor them as you deposit them into your memory bank.  If writing or dictating a narrative does not come easily to you, try drawing a picture, writing a poem, or composing a tune.  Just do something to capture the moment in a way that is most meaningful to you.  Your abilities as an artist, writer, or composer are less important than your desire to relish life.

How to Order Books, Audio Tapes and more

How about some autographed copies of 'Recipes for Enchantment' with a free copy of The Enchanted Self's paper newsletter and a bookmark?  Perhaps you would be interested in my first book, 'The Enchanted Self', which is also available on audio tape?  Here are some ways to order:

Tip: When shopping online use keywords "recipes for enchantment" and "enchanted self" to locate the books. 

E-group: Connect with others like you!

Find out "what's right with you--not what's wrong!"  Come chat with other "Enchanted Self-ers" at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/encself.  Membership is free and you will have access to our on-line calendar, message board, chat room, and more.   It's a great way to connect with others who are exploring, creating and sharing their own positive and satisfying lives.  See you there!

Share Your Enchantment!

Share your positive stories and questions about enchantment with us and other Enchanted Self readers around the globe!  Our mid-month e-zine focuses on YOU and reaches a subscriber list of almost 700 people from the US , Canada , Australia , the United Kingdom , and many other countries! Please send stories, comments, and questions to encself@aol.com.

Quote of the Month

Avoid the Need for Regrets.  When you are old, what are the chances you will say, "My only regret is that I did not spend more time at the office?"  If you do, you will enter the Guinness book of records as the first person in the history of mankind to say that.  Everyone else says, "I wish I had spent more time with my family."  Some people say, "I wish I had spent more time learning".  Why not think ahead and lead your life in a way that you won't have these regrets?

  -- This quote is taken from, IT'S NOT AS TOUGH AS YOU THINK by Dr. Abraham Twerski, p.3l. 

Blessing of the Month

May your mental 'blood' type always be B-Positive rather than B-Negative.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Have an "enchanting" month.  I wish you all many enchanted moments!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Forwarding & Reprinting

(C) 2000-2002 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)          

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

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~        

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

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~