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A TASTE OF ENCHANTMENT: May 2002 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.

Question of the Month: Is There Magic in THE ENCHANTED SELF?

Is There Magic in THE ENCHANTED SELF?

By Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein

When I first developed the positive therapy and educational instruction that became THE ENCHANTED SELF(r) it had been inspired by the eighteen women I had interviewed--ranging in age from 35 to their early 80's--who were not part of my practice.  They had given me a wonderful gift. They taught me that no matter how a life goes, we all have capacities for joy, optimism, a sense of well-being and a sense of purpose.  They also shared with me their delight in achieving personal and professional successes.  Their delight was often heightened by the fact that they had gone beyond dysfunction and personal disappointment to living lives that contained many moments of enchantment. 

I learned that it doesn't matter if life takes us through a 'disenchanted forest'.  We can stay enchanted in many ways.

Edith, one of the women I interviewed, comes to mind.  She had developed many of the perfectionist, compulsive traits of a prematurely, mature child of alcoholic parents.  Although her childhood was far from ideal, she took these same traits in adulthood and turned them into becoming a successful businesswoman.  She then used them to focus on wonderful hobbies that she truly enjoyed.  All in all, she was leading an enchanted adulthood, still carrying her coping skills from childhood, yet turning them into skills that helped her achieve and enjoy.  Isn't this a wonderful example of the magic powers of the human condition?

THE ENCHANTED SELF is magical in the sense that the positive energies we all have available to tap into are really amazing.  When I am in a state of well-being--a state that peace of mind--I will be able to climb mountains, at least metaphorically.  'Flow' may happen.  Certainly productive living that feels great will take place. The positive energy that is released when I am living as my Enchanted Self is enormous and perfectly suited to me.  It is like my fingerprints or snowflakes.  No one else will ever have my energy with which to create a life!

Some of my colleagues have not been as content as I am over the choice of my title: THE ENCHANTED SELF.  They have mentioned that "enchanted" may suggest the notion of a spell.  They wonder if I mean a 'cast' spell of some sort. 

THE ENCHANTED SELF does imply as one of its many connotations, the capacity to be under a spell, but I am suggesting a 'spell' of contentment--the spell of well-being that comes when we practice conditioning ourselves to thinking in a positive fashion, behaving in positive ways, and learning how to reinforce positive thoughts and actions. 

THE ENCHANTED SELF does assume that our personal experiences, whatever they are, are influenced by the way we decide to interpret our world and how we train ourselves to think and react.  So in a sense, we have a personal choice as to what kind of 'spell' we cast on ourselves.

Each of us should take the time to ask ourselves, "How do I cast my lot?  What do I ask of myself? Do I take the time to improve not only my positive perceptions of the world and myself, but do I take the time to learn positive thinking skills?"  The answers to these questions will influence the way each of us lives.  Although we may not have full control of what happens to us, we can have control of our reactions, attitudes and consequent behaviors.  Yes, for sure, there is a sense of personal magic in THE ENCHANTED SELF.  This magic comes about as we combine and re-combine our lives and attitudes, decisions and actions.

What do you think about the term THE ENCHANTED SELF?  What does it mean to you?  Does it capture for you the essence of living a life of meaning while experiencing positive states of being?  I look forward to hearing from you!

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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

How to Order

Here are some ways to order RECIPES FOR ENCHANTMENT, The Secret Ingredient is YOU! as well as THE ENCHANTED SELF, A Positive Therapy.  If you order from my website I can send you autographed copies of my two books.  I can also send your free Enchanted Self bookmarks and copies of my paper newsletter, THE ENCHANTED SELF.  You can also order the audio edition of my first book, THE ENCHANTED SELF, A Positive Therapy via my web site.

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

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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)

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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