Resources

I’m a huge fan of self-help pioneer, Louise Hay and I recently came across her powerful 12 Commandments to Help You Learn to Love Yourself, which I’m reprinting here.

Click on the link at the bottom of the list to print out a free copy of this list. I encourage you to post them where you can see them every day and share this list with those you care about. We could all use a little more love!

1. Stop All Criticism.

Criticism never changes a thing. Refuse to criticize yourself. Accept yourself exactly as you are. Everybody changes. When you criticize yourself, your changes are negative. When you approve of yourself, your changes are positive.

2. Forgive Yourself.

Let the past go. You did the best you could at the time with the understanding, awareness, and knowledge that you had. Now you are growing and changing, and you will live life differently.

3. Don’t Scare Yourself.

Stop terrorizing yourself with your thoughts. It’s a dreadful way to live. Find a mental image that gives you pleasure, and immediately switch your scary thought to a pleasure thought.

4. Be Gentle and Kind and Patient.

Be gentle with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Be patient with yourself as you learn the new ways of thinking. Treat yourself as you would someone you really loved.

5. Be Kind to Your Mind.

Self-hatred is only hating your own thoughts. Don’t hate yourself for having the thoughts. Gently change your thoughts.

6. Praise Yourself.

Criticism breaks down the inner spirit. Praise builds it up. Praise yourself as much as you can. Tell yourself how well you are doing with every little thing.

7. Support Yourself.

Find ways to support yourself. Reach out to friends and allow them to help you. It is being strong to ask for help when you need it.

8. Be Loving to Your Negatives.

Acknowledge that you created them to fulfill a need. Now you are finding new, positive ways to fulfill those needs. So lovingly release the old negative patterns.

9. Take Care of Your Body.

Learn about nutrition. What kind of fuel does your body need in order to have optimum energy and vitality? Learn about exercise. What kind of exercise do you enjoy? Cherish and revere the temple you live in.

10. Do Mirror Work.

Look into your eyes often. Express this growing sense of love you have for yourself. Forgive yourself while looking into the mirror. Talk to your parents while looking into the mirror. Forgive them, too. At least once a day, say, “I love you, I really love you!”

11. Love Yourself… Do It Now.

Don’t wait until you get well, or lose the weight, or get the new job, or find the new relationship. Begin now—and do the best you can.

12. Have Fun.

Remember the things that gave you joy as a child. Incorporate them into your life now. Find a way to have fun with everything you do. Let yourself express the joy of living. Smile. Laugh. Rejoice, and the Universe rejoices with you!

Click on the below link to download and print this list:

12 Commandments to Love Yourself


 

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3 Ways to Outsmart Retailer’s Tricks

by Shannon on December 4, 2011

I receive emails from a great website called Daily Worth. Recently they sent me information about how to stay financially sane during the holiday season. I thought it was so helpful, I wanted to pass it on. Here it is…

The smarter you get, the more retailers try to outsmart you.

Although a new study from Deloitte shows that 90% of people know what they’re buying before they get to a store (and about 66% shop when products are on sale)—anxious retailers are coming up with new ways to get you to give into impulse buys.

Some, like Foot Locker, have honed their sales techniques so you’re more likely to chat with store associates (increasing the likelihood that you’ll buy).

Others, like Old Navy, have changed their store layouts to encourage you to browse longer and buy on impulse.

Here are three ways you can fight back:

$ Know your limit. Most people have an impulse-buy threshold of, say, $20. If an item costs less than your limit, you won’t think twice before buying it. Red flag: Beware when the phrase, “Heck, it’s only 20 bucks” crosses your brain.

$ Revive time-honored smart-shopping techniques. Like Mom said, don’t shop when you’re hungry and always bring a list.

$ Beware of big carts. Many stores provide ginormous carts now, with the result that shoppers spend as much as 40% more than with the old carts, says Martin Lindstrom, author of the new book, Brandwashed: Tricks Companies Use to Manipulate Our Minds and Persuade Us to Buy.

If you have suggestions on how to keep holiday spending under control, please send them to Shannon@positiveportions or write them in the Comments section.

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Now Appearing in First for Women Magazine

September 18, 2011

I have the privilege of being featured in the October  10, 2011 issue of First for Women magazine. As part of a larger article, I get to share how one of the most powerful ways I found to gain both physical and emotional health involved nothing more than a pair of tennis shoes, a portable [...]

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Wellness Wednesday Book Signing in San Pedro

July 17, 2011

Join me as I speak and sign books at Wellness Wednesdays at the San Pedro & Peninsula YMCA. When: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 What time? 6:30 pm Where: 301 S. Bandini Street, San Pedro, CA Why? This is about you becoming your best self, whatever your age, level of fitness or abilities. Learn what tools [...]

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So You Want to Be a Published Author? Part 2

June 26, 2011

In my last blog, I shared Part 1 of how I bumbled my way into published authorhood, Forrest Gump-style. Here’s the rest along with a little advice from my inner Mama Gump. One day I was in Target and figured I’d swing by the book section on my way out. My eyes fell upon a [...]

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So You Want to Be a Published Author? Part 1

June 19, 2011

Since The Positive Portions Food & Fitness Journal came out last year, I’ve had many budding authors (or friends of budding authors) ask me how I got published. I wish I had a magic formula to share but all I have is the story of how I stumbled my way into published authordom. Here’s the [...]

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Dr. Bookspan Asks: How Good Would You Look from 400 Squats a Day?

May 10, 2011

Did you know that the average non-sedentary (but not particularly active) person bends somewhere between 200 – 400 times per day? Think about it. Every time we unload the dishwasher, pick up something off the floor or tie our shoes, we’re bending. (And if you’re one of those active, high-energy types like me, you’re bending [...]

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Free Online Calorie Counters

December 10, 2009

The Positive Portions Food & Fitness Journal allows you to not only to write down the food you are eating every day, but it also enables you to record your food’s specific nutritional information, such as calories, protein, and fat.  Here are two websites that provide free-of-charge nutritional information to help you easily fill out your food [...]

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