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A TASTE OF
ENCHANTMENT: June 2002 Special Edition
"Achieving Positive States of Mind and Body Again and Again"
Produced by Dr. Barbara Becker
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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:
How do I better relish and later return to special good times in my life?
Relishing
Enchanted Moments
by Dr. Barbara Becker
That is a great question. I think you are talking about those special times in our lives when we feel so alive and filled with a real feeling of personal well-being. They are the times that we really don't want to end. I often call them 'Enchanted Moments. 'We can’t ever have enough of them. I know I have found myself having more Enchanted Moments and enjoying life's little pleasures more fully as I have found ways to better recognize and relish good times. Let me share some of the ways to do this, by first sharing with you an Enchanted Moment--yet at the same time an ordinary moment on an ordinary day in the life of a regular person--so you can get a sense of what one is like. One that comes to mind happened to my colleague on The Enchanted Self project, Doreen Laperdon-Addison, and her daughter.
They were visiting the beach with a friend and her little boy. Doreen had this to say about the experience, "It was a beautiful sunny day with crisp air and blue skies. We took off our shoes and put our feet in the water, which was cold, but exhilarating. My friend and I sat on the sand talking while the kids dug holes, made sand angels, and chased seagulls. Watching them brought back memories, not only from my youth but also from my teen and later years. There was a feeling of freedom and exhilaration that only a child can experience. I realized I was in the midst of an enchanted moment and, using all of my senses, I mentally deposited these images and sensations into my memory bank for later use."
The ordinary experience of going to the beach was transformed into a special memory for Doreen. When she deposited it into her memory bank, the experience was in an enhanced state, combining older memories with positive aspects of her present life.
Enchanted memories are different from everyday memories because they have a rich layered quality, derived from a variety of positive memories, sensory images, and present day attitudes about the experiences themselves. Not only are these memories joyful, they are also very meaningful.
Would you like to practice finding and enjoying more Enchanted Moments? Here are some ideas:
Play-date with
Enchantment #1
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.
Play-date with
Enchantment #2
This exercise is about withdrawing positive memories from your memory bank. No matter how dysfunctional one's life is, each of us has experienced moments that were good and possibly inspirational. To fully appreciate these memories, we sometimes need the courage to let go of their dysfunctional aspects, revising them to emphasize positive elements. Scan your memory bank for a memory. Let go of any negative feelings around it, focusing on its inherent beauty and the good things that may have come about afterwards. Relish whatever part of the memory that has some enchantment. Use your senses.
Remember that the pain is a part of the distant past. Enjoy what is best about this memory before you let it go. I hope you had a refreshing and fun time!
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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
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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