(Posted on July 30, 2008)
Do you ever wake in the night and get caught in circular thinking? Are you ever facing a trip, a presentation, a big event and find that, even though you need to sleep, you cannot turn it off? Does your mind turn on an inner critic in the night?
MARJ BARLOW’S BELIEFS ABOUT PHYSICAL HEALTH
(posted on July 29, 2008)
My principles of health were formed in the years I was serving my clients as a professional therapist. I taught stress management classes, worked with local health organizations, providing hypnosis, guided imagery, and relaxation training. I had seen many real life examples of the connections between the mind and the body. The seven principles of health which were the basis for my series of lessons all start with the letter M. Seven Principles, Seven Actions: Mouth, Meditation, Movement, Mission, Mentors, Mirth, and Music.
I received this idea from reading Laurence Hillman’s description of an upcoming Mythodrama, which Paul and I are attending in September. Turning that inside critical voice into an inner Strengths Coach is a novel and exciting idea. Try it! You might like it! Next time you find yourself silently berating yourself, scolding or putting yourself down, STOP! Yes, you can stop thoughts. Take charge of the thought and ask what would you do if you were coaching someone who was saying those things about him or herself? You can change the direction of your inner dialogue. That negative self-talk is not helpful to you. It will never bring you to your greatness or your best version of yourself. That negative voice is the one thing that is guaranteed to keep your self image in the mode of “I am not enough”.