Retrain the Brain

For ALL "emotional" problems, including unhappiness, patterns of thought, beliefs, and behaviors, you have to change. Master the principles of success, and you will be successful at everything you want or need to accomplish.

BOOKS:

Reading motivational, spiritual, educational and positive books about how to live in a healthy manner with successful values and morals is critically important. At minimum 5-15 minutes daily. Books such as "Your Erroneous Zones" by Wayne Dyer, "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie, "Embraced By the Light" by Betty Eadie, and "Happiness is a Choice" by Barry Neil Kaufman are very helpful.

TAPES:

Must overwhelm your mind to new information, and program your "automatic" brain to think successfully. Listen to tapes whenever you can - driving, getting dressed, cleaning, etc. Zig Ziglar’s "How to Stay Motivated" series is the best to get started (1-800-527-0306). Nightingale-Conant has a catalog with an excellent collection of tapes (1-800-323-5552).

SELF TALK:

We are what we think about all day long. Must learn to control our self-talk. The first step is awareness (mood checks), the second "affirmations" - saying what we want to be in advance. It takes 21 days to develop a new habit.

COUNSELING:

Counseling is extremely important and can be remarkably effective. It needs to emphasize where you go from here, and learning the necessary skills to be happy and healthy.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Reduce negative influences: acquaintances (and sometimes family members), negative self-talk, media, co-dependent and stress provoking music. Reduce stress: exercise, meditation, better career choices, lifestyle changes, learn better communication skills, choice of friends.

SELF-ESTEEM ENHANCING ACTIVITIES:

Volunteering to help others, public speaking (support groups & Toastmasters), learning a new hobby, improving skills at something important to you.

AFFIRMATIONS:

These affirmations are mostly from Zig Ziglar, who has given me permission to use them for my patients. Saying them out loud uses the entire brain and tells your brain what you want. Here is an example for a person named Benjamin:

I, Benjamin

...am a person with integrity, a great attitude, and specific goals. I have a high energy level, am enthusiastic, and take pride in my appearance and what I do. I have a sense of humor, lots of faith, wisdom, and the vision and courage to use my talents effectively. I let go of the past, with excitement for my future.

I have character, and am a smart, talented person. My beliefs are strong, and I have a healthy self-image, a passion for what is right, and a solid hope for the future. I am peaceful, calm, relaxed and happy. I am worthy of love.

I am honest, sincere, and hard-working. I am tough, but fair and sensitive. I am disciplined, motivated, and focused. I am a good listener and am very patient. I am an encourager, a good-finder, and a forgiving person. I am caring, considerate, and committed to doing the right thing.

I am family oriented, open minded, and an excellent communicator. I am a student, a teacher, and a self starter. I am obedient, loyal, responsible, and dependable. I have a servant’s heart, am ambitious and a team player. I am personable, optimistic and organized. I am consistent, considerate, and resourceful. I know what is right for me and I do it.

I am intelligent, competent, persistent and creative. I am health conscious, balanced and clean. I am flexible, punctual and thrifty.

I am an honorable person who is truly grateful for the opportunity life has given me. These are the qualities of the winner I WAS BORN TO BE, and I fully intend to develop these marvelous qualities with which I have been entrusted by God.

Tonight I am going to sleep wonderfully well. I will dream powerful, positive dreams. I will awaken energized and refreshed, and tomorrow’s going to be magnificent.

God, my family and my true friends love me no matter what!

top

home | about me | bpd info | bpd faqs | children | screening | suicide
books |