Heart and Sole

NEWSLETTER # 6 | NEWSLETTER # 7 |NEWSLETTER # 8 | NEWSLETTER # 9

Heart and Sole
           Spring 1998

         Reflexology . . . A way to give to ourselves
                                     or to give to others

In the 1990's Reflexology has made it into the mainstream. In Prevention magazine a Reebok ad compares their walking shoe to the principles of Reflexology.    A 10 minute Reflexology session is now offered at the Rockport Concept Shoe Store in New York City. Numerous national magazines have published articles telling of the benefits of Reflexology. The feet are finally getting the attention they deserve.

For someone who stands on their feet all day, Reflexology is a way to be nice to a part of the body which does so much for them. For those who experience stress in the workplace, it is an opportunity for time away from social interactions or expectations. It is a chance to restore coping skills and restore energy.

Reflexology is a form of giving ourselves the individual attention we deserve.    When we do something nice for ourselves, it lifts our spirits and increases our self worth. It is making a statement to ourselves, "Yes, I am Worth it". It is important to love and to give to others, but it is also important to be nice to ourselves.

Imagine

Imagine there is a bank which credits our account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day, allows us to keep no cash balance, and every evening cancels whatever part of the amount we had failed to use during the day. What would we do? Probably draw out every cent every day!

Everyone has such a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning it credits us with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost whatever we have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for us. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If we fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is ours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow". We must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success. The clock is running. Make the most of today.

Let's treasure every moment we have and remember time waits for no one . . .

Yesterday is history
Tomorrow a mystery
Today is a gift
That's why it's called the present!



             Take Time

1. Take time to dream -- it hitches your soul to the stars.

2. Take time to work -- it is the price of success.

3. Take time to think -- it is the source of power.

4. Take time to play -- it is the secret of youth.

5. Take time to worship -- it is the highway of reverence and washes the dust of earth from our eyes.

7. Take time for friends -- they are the source of happiness.

8. Take time to love -- it is the source of joy.

9. Take time to laugh -- it helps with life's loads.

10. Take time for beauty -- it is everywhere to be enjoyed.

11. Take time for health -- it is the true treasure of life.

12. Take time to plan -- it is the secret to getting the things you desire.



Thoughts

The thoughts we have affect what we think about ourselves and how we perceive life. Our minds are built of thoughts. Layer upon layer our thoughts accumulate, and define our very character.

Thinking is a matter of control. Our thoughts don't just come to us--they are created by us according to our purpose. Our minds are powerful instruments. When we decide that something is true or beyond our reach, it's very difficult to pierce through this self-created hurdle. One of the greatest secrets for knocking down these hurdles is to believe in ourselves, and to fill our minds with thoughts that will enhance our confidence.

What we feel begins with a thought. We build up feelings of insecurity or security by how we think. We can build feelings of security by thinking good thoughts about ourselves. Feelings of confidence depend upon the type of thoughts that habitually occupy our mind. When we practice thinking confident thoughts and making it a dominating habit, it can help us to develop a strong sense of capacity to overcome challenges as they arise. Choose thoughts that make us strong and steadfast and this will force out or expel thoughts of doubt.

When we say or think uplifting things to ourselves about ourselves, notice the feeling it gives us. It makes us feel good.

From time to time we can all use a little boost to our self-esteem. Recently while surfing the net, I came across this article and would like to share it with you.

Strategies for
Building

Self- Esteem

1. Free yourself from "should's". Live your life on the basis of what is possible for you and what feels right to you instead of what others think you "should do."   "Shoulds" distract us from identifying and fulfilling our
own needs, abilities, interest and personal goals. Find out what you want and what you are good at,
value those, and take actions designed to fulfill your potential.

2. Respect your own needs. Recognize and take care of your needs. Identify what really fulfills you--not just immediate gratification. Respecting your deeper needs will increase your sense of worth and well-being.

3. Set goals. Reach for the stars. Establish goals on the basis of what you think you can achieve, and then work step-by-step to develop your potential.

4. Talk to yourself positively. If you notice that you are doubting or judging yourself, replace such thoughts with self-accepting thoughts, balanced self-assessment and self-supportive direction.

5. Experience success. Seek out and put yourself in situations in which the probability of success is high. Look for projects which stretch--but don't overwhelm--your abilities. "Imagine" yourself succeeding. Whatever you accomplish, let yourself acknowledge and experience the good feeling that comes with success.

6. Take chances. New experiences are learning experiences which can build self-confidence. Feel good about trying something new, making progress and increasing your competence.

7. Emphasize your strength. Focus on what you can do. Accept current limitations and live comfortable within them, even as you consider what strengths you might want or need to develop next.

8. Make decisions. Practice making and implementing positive decisions flexibly but firmly, and trust yourself to deal with the consequences. When you assert yourself, you enhance your sense of yourself, learn more, and increase your self-confidence.

9. Rely on your own opinion of yourself. Entertain feed back from others, but don't rely on their opinions. Depend on your own values in making decisions and deciding how you feel about yourself and what is right for you to do.

Building self-esteem can be fun and an achievable goal. Any direction we want to turn is open and waiting for our first step.

Music . . . . Positive Notes

Have you ever heard a piece of music that made you want to just stop and listen to it because it was so pleasing to you?    Some music makes us want to stop and tap our toes. Other kinds can make us want to just stop what we are doing and give it our full attention.

Music is a combining of elements that typically incorporates sounds into a lyrical blend of pitch, melody, and rhythm and progresses from one cord to another in an emotional fashion.

Most of us were introduced to music when we were babies. Our parents sang lullabies to us to soothe and quiet us when we were cranky or sleepy.

Advertisers and movie producers realize the influence of music and invest a great deal of thought when choosing background music for a movie or advertisement.

We have long known of the power of sound and music to affect our emotions and moods. The history
of music goes back to Biblical times when we read about David, the famed harp player whose music eased the madness of King Saul. Today music is an important part of the worship service. Tribal music, ceremonial music and devotional music are also well-known examples of how music and sound can be used to create change.

Today researchers have released a number of studies that verify music's ability to improve memory and reduce stress. Dr. Steven Halpern, PhD says sound can have a great effect on your heart beat. "Your heart will speed up or slow down to match the rhythm of a sound," he says. "If you are listening to music with a fast drumbeat, your heart will speed up and if you're listening to a slower piece, your heart will beat slower to match it."

The music of nature provides sounds which have a soothing quality. When we hear nature music, it instills in us a quiet, peaceful feeling. Many of the CD's for relaxation provides the sounds of nature as a large portion of its' theme.

If you are interested in finding tapes or CD's for relaxation, give me a call and I will be glad to give you the names of several I would recommend.

The next time we need to move a little faster, we can decide to listen to music with a peppy rhythm. If we want to slow down, choose music with a slower rhythm. Whatever the rhythm we choose, let's appreciate music as a beautiful gift in our lives, a gift to enjoy.

Want to take time for yourself? Call 358-3990 to schedule a Reflexology or Pampered Feet and Reflexology appointment. For those special occasions, Gift Certificates are available in person or by mail.
Recommended Reading:

Simple Abundance   A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach

NEWSLETTER # 6 | NEWSLETTER # 7 |NEWSLETTER # 8 | NEWSLETTER # 9