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Embraceable Y-O-U
by Marcia Davis Taylor When was the last time
you looked at yourself in a mirror? I
mean really looked at Y-O-U. Not to check your hair or makeup, or
to see how fabulous you look in that new suit or to
bemoan a physical characteristic that you don’t like. I mean really look
at you with appreciation and admiration, and say, “I love you!”
When
was the last time you journeyed within, looking deeper than the physical and
embracing what is wonderful about you – your mind, your heart, your soul
and your spirit?
If you haven’t done this in a while, or if you have never done it
at all, begin 2006 with a renewed commitment to actively love,
respect and embrace your wonderful, beautiful self! For many of us, expressing what we like about ourselves or tooting
our own horns doesn’t come easy. However,
you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are the only one like you and you owe it to yourself to embrace all that
you are!
One of the methods you can use to begin the process of actively
embracing your unique self is the use of affirmations.
By definition, “affirm” means to assert positively or to confirm. For
our purposes, an affirmation is a positively
written or spoken statement that has the purpose of creating change in
one’s life. Here are some
guidelines for creating affirmations:
Two examples following these
guidelines are, “I love and appreciate myself,” and “I
deserve all of the abundance and prosperity the universe has to offer.” Begin with one affirmation so that you do not become
overwhelmed. Post or keep it in
a place where you will be reminded of it daily – the bathroom mirror is an
excellent spot. At least once
daily, speak your affirmation to yourself while looking in the mirror. You may read or speak your affirmation many times throughout the day. Stick with your original affirmation for approximately 30 days, or
until it is ingrained in your thinking and behavior.
According to
life coach Eva Gregory, “the more positive thoughts you possess, the more
that will come back to you – the boomerang effect.” She uses this philosophy and the principles of universal laws
(e.g.,
belief and equality) to help others open themselves to receive the many
gifts life has to offer. In
her article “Applying the Universal Laws to Create the Reality You
Crave,” Ms. Gregory counsels that if the body, mind and spirit are sick,
tired or stressed, it leaves no room for the intuition needed to attract
success or achieve abundance. She
further writes that “taking care of your needs is not selfish, but
self care.”
The law of
equality is familiar to most of us as the concept of self-fulfilling
prophecies. Basically, whatever
you believe will come to be. Ms.
Gregory writes that we must “focus on what we can do, be and achieve, and
come to trust ourselves. Our
beliefs are the backbone of our reality.”
Embrace the
positive by using affirmations and practicing the universal laws of belief
and equality. Your beliefs
create your reality. Think positively and a positive reality will come
into existence in your life.
“Your heart is a gift, with its dreams and
passions, and its ability to give and receive love. Indeed, each of us is a gift from God to each other. Value the unique talents, opinions and capacities that you have to
offer. Give thanks for the gift
that you are.” The
Black Women’s Health Imperative Online—June 25, 2004
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Marcia
Davis Taylor is a South Carolina-based certified self-care consultant and
the owner of Life-Work
Balance Resources. She is a married mom of three, and has been a working
mom for 16 years. Her experiences in the field of maternal and child health,
and as an independent consultant for Warm Spirit, a health and wellness
company, have given Marcia a unique perspective on helping women achieve
optimal levels of spiritual, mental and physical health.
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