The following remarks became part of an article recently carried in Story Circle Journal. I hope you enjoy reading these.

I believe that retrieving positive memories is important to our health and well being. This is one of the dominant themes of my professional teaching. I have come to believe that without a sense that life is pleasant and at times pleasurable, joyful, even rapturous and ecstatic, we are vulnerable to depression, chronic anxiety and seeing ourselves in a poor light.

I have seen my clients and myself find positive information in our own life story and perk up no matter what the circumstances. For me perhaps this was never more strongly pointed out than writing RECIPES FOR ENCHANTMENT, The Secret Ingredient is YOU! So many times when I was writing the book I remembered and felt the positive lessons that my dad had taught me. I felt his love for me coming through. For example when I remember his story about how he had not picked up a returnable glass bottle when he was a boy, as his friend told him "it ain't worth nothin'," I am flooded with good feelings about my dad.

My dad really made an effort to help people to make good judgment decisions. For example, in his story, "That ain't Worth nothin'," he looses a bottle in the gutter because a friend convinces him it is not worth anything. However, the friend then picks it up and turns it in for a "shiny" penny! He loved to tell his lost bottle story because it pointed out occasions that we all face.

So often people try to convince us that something is not good for us. Why? Perhaps because they want it instead or they really believe it isn't good for us, or they simply, for some reason, are blocking us. That's where our personal judgment skill comes in to play.

Many times during my life, people have tried to convince me to drop something. For certain there have been people trying to convince me to drop THE ENCHANTED SELF project, as it has been an expensive passion. As those of us know who publish books and newsletters, oftentimes the financial returns are minimal if at all. But my father's lessons in learning to make clear judgment decisions and evaluating the circumstances have stayed with me. I see THE ENCHANTED SELF as a long-range project over many years and every day that I can educate and help someone or share in the mutuality of positive stories I am at peace with myself.

I wish all of you a continued opportunity to come to peace with yourselves again and again as you walk your particular road of ENCHANTMENT!


About the Author
Dr. Holstein is the originator of The Enchanted Self and a psychologist since 1981. She is the author of two books: The Enchanted Self, A Positive Therapy and Recipes for Enchantment, The Secret Ingredient is YOU!
Dr. Holstein speaks on radio, and appears on television in NY and NJ. She gives lectures, seminars, retreats and audio interviews on LadybugLive.com and is in private practice in Long Branch, NJ with her husband, Dr. Russell Holstein.