* Choose words you use for yourself purposefully. Words have a powerful impact on how we feel and think about ourselves and others. Words can hurt, flatten, and wound. Words can also encourage, empower, heal. Choose words, when you think about yourself, that are positive, kind, and loving.

* Listen to alternative, healing music. If you only look for one song, check out Libby Roderick's "How Could Anyone," on her cd If You See a Dream. The lyrics are a powerful, healing affirmation: "How could anyone ever tell you, you were anything less than beautiful, how could anyone ever tell you, you were less than whole?"

* Listen to children's music. I'm not kidding. There are some wonderful, empowering, encouraging children's songs. Check out "Proud of Me" and "Me" sung by Sesame Street's Grover on "The Best of Grover"; "Happy Place," "It's okay," "Sing a happy song," "We'll Fill World With Love," amd "What a wonderful world" by Rosenshontz, "Believe in Yourself," "But I Like You," by Sesame Street;

* Read a book or comic strip that makes you feel good. Feeling good helps get you into that receptive space where you can take in good messages. A book that always makes me feel good, and gives me positive, healing messages is 39 Ways to Open Your Heart by Arlene Gay Levine and Karen Kroll. The messages are like healing affirmations, and artwork is stunning.

Another of my favourite things to read when I want a huge splash of good feeling is any of Rose Is Rose collected comic strips. They affirm playful child in me, and usually reading them in large doses (such as a book) leave me feeling happy. You can check out thirty days of comic strip here, or check out these Rose Is Rose email greetings that give you feel of what comic is all about.

* Write yourself a loving letter. Write yourself a letter that mentions all things you love about yourself. Go into as much detail as you want. If you have trouble writing it, think of a friend who loves you, and try to write it from their perspective. Then mail yourself letter.

Repeatedly telling positive messages to yourself, and taking them in, can work to build up your love for yourself, and help you to be more open to good things within you, and arouond you. It can also build up your resistance to critical, hurtful messages, and help you to feel happier. So what are you waiting for? Give yourself a positive message right now. And believe it.

Resources:

* Levine, Arlene Gay and Karen Kroll. 39 Ways to Open Your Heart, Conari Press: California, 1996. A beautiful book with loving, healing messages that read like meditations, and stunning, beautiful artwork. It seems to be temporarily out of print, but you can usually find copies at AbeBooks.com * Rose Is Rose, 30 days online Rose Is Rose email greetings * watch some of my affirmation cards online * Libby Roderick's "How Could Anyone" song

© Cheryl Rainfield, 2002 http://www.CherylRainfield.com All rights reserved.

* * *

If you like this article, you may post it on your website or use it in your print publication, as long as you provide a link back to my site (http://www.CherylRainfield.com), and credit me. I'd also really like to know where you put my article, but you don't have to let me know in order to use it.

* * *