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ENCHANTMENT IN AN E-MAIL - AUGUST 2001         

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

Recipe for Enchantment #14

This Recipe for Enchantment comes from my new book: RECIPES FOR ENCHANTMENT, The Secret Ingredient is YOU!

Mix together the following:

A positive feeling or thought,

A positive action,

And lastly, the most important

Ingredient of all - your uniqueness,

Your perceptions of the world,

Reactions, interests, abilities,

Passions.

This combination is guaranteed to

Enhance the world and to engender

A sense of well-being in YOU - We

All benefit!

Article: WALTZING - Grandfather Really Knew How to Dance!

by Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein

(I am sharing with you this month one of the vignettes from my book: RECIPES FOR ENCHANTMENT, The Secret Ingredient is YOU!  I hope you enjoy this.)

My friend Mary Ellen recently began taking ballroom dancing lessons through a local adult education program.  As she relaxes in the strong arms of her teacher, a courtly gentleman who is teaching her to fox trot, cha-cha and tango, Mary Ellen's memories return to her first dancing partner, her grandfather.

When she was a girl, she took several ocean voyages to Europe with her grandparents on the Queen Elizabeth II.  Her grandfather, she tells me, looked like a Spanish count, and not without reason - the blood of Spanish royalty ran in his veins.  Yet he always acted like the perennial host, welcoming people and treating everyone like royalty. 

What she remembers best are the formal evening activities.  She loved getting ready for dinner - slipping into her taffeta dresses and satiny, shiny shoes.  They were enough to make any awkward, homely, eleven-year-old girl feel as if she'd stepped into a fairy tale.   

But the dressing up was only a part of the fun.  Best of all was when her tall, distinguished, perpetually tanned grandfather would take her in his arms. Gliding with him across the polished dance floor with the live orchestra playing behind them, she felt transformed.  No longer chubby and insecure, she was now a beautiful woman, a svelte princess. It was an ENCHANTED MOMENT.

For a long time, Mary Ellen thought those elegant days were gone forever.  But when she began taking dance lessons, she was flooded with memories--of the ship, the music, her imagined beauty, and most of all, of her grandfather.  Now she finds herself enjoying ENCHANTED MOMENTS in her everyday life, reinforced by her memories from so long ago.

How Can You Relate To This Story?

Think of all your activities.  Is it possible that you could derive more pleasure from them than you now do, if you associated them with pleasant memories?  To find out, pick an activity you already enjoy.  Close your eyes and let your mind wander.  Think of times in the past when you enjoyed this or similar activities.  Think about and/or write down your memories.

Can you recall any pleasant memories that would be rekindled if you embarked upon a similar activity now, just as Mary Ellen's dance lessons rekindled hers?  What activity from your long-ago life could you bring back to life today?  What great memory accompanies that activity?  How would you go about including this activity in your present life?

There are always two ways to take advantage of your memories: by letting experiences from the past lead you to new ones, or by augmenting present-day activities with memories from the past.  Don't forget: we are not simple. In our "Recipes for Enchantment," we enhance our activities with positive feelings and thoughts. The more positive threads we bring to the loom, the richer the tapestry, and the more we get out of enchanted living.

How to Order RECIPES FOR ENCHANTMENT, The Secret Ingredient is YOU!

Get the e-book at www.1stbooks.com for $4.95!  You can also order hard copies with your credit card.  Anyone wanting an autographed copy can order via www.enchantedself.com/ordering1.htm.  A free copy of my paper newsletter and bookmark are included for just $9.95 plus $4.00 shipping and handling.

You can also order from Amazon at www.amazon.com or Barnes & Noble at www.bn.com.  Use keywords "recipes for enchantment".

Announcement 2: Upcoming Tele-Classes

I will be offering two free sessions on "Creating Your Own Recipe for Enchantment".  If interested I would encourage you to read my book, RECIPES FOR ENCHANTMENT, The Secret Ingredient is YOU!  Don't forget--an inexpensive way to do this is to download the e-book.

If you are interested in this free opportunity please send your name to Rebecca Trelfa at rebecca@enchantedself.com.  Tentatively the first class is scheduled for August 13th at 9:00 pm EST.   You will receive another e-mail with further information and details by the first of next week.

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!

Live Chat!

Join us for the Enchanted Self's first live chat on Tuesday, August 7 at 3 pm EST.   I will be introducing the core concepts and origins of the Enchanted Self.  It's a great way to get to know other e-group members as well as myself!

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 over 600 people from the US , Canada , Australia , the United Kingdom , and many other countries!  Please send stories, comments, and questions to rebecca@enchantedself.com.

Quote of the Month

"You ask, 'How can I be happy if it am not?'  True, you can't control the way you feel, but you do have control over your conscious thought, speech, and actions?  Do something simple: Think good thoughts, speak good things, behave the way a joyful person behaves -- even if you don't fully feel it inside.  Eventually, the inner joy of the soul will break through."

-- p. 63 from Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, Meditations and Everyday Wisdom From the Teachings of the Rebbe, Menachem Schneerson.  Compiled by Tzvi Freeman and published by Adams Media Corporation.

Blessing of the Month

I wish you wonderful adventures, pleasures beyond counting, and most of all, I wish that every day of your life, you feel centered, whole, and that being YOU is the most fabulous adventure of all.

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

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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)

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.

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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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