You Can Heal Your Life – the power of affirmations

Continuing my own spiritual journey toward healing, I grabbed the book You Can Heal Your Life
by Louise Hay. This book was recommended by JoAnn who commented on my posting “How do you regain your health when things seem so bad?”. Thanks JoAnn! This was a fabulous book. It is a book about loving, forgiving, and living. What more is there to life?

Remember that Saturday Night Live skit with Al Franken as the crazy blob of a fellow who would sit in front of a mirror wallowing in self-pity? Well, this is a far cry from the real truth behind affirmations. There is real power in this. Allowing yourself to love yourself unconditionally is the way we all should live. I know that I need to stop that continuous stream of mental trash talking. It’s not easy, because we are trained to be critical of so many things, especially ourselves. When you look in the mirror what do you see? The pimples, the wrinkles, the blemishes? Or do you see God’s beautiful creation looking back at you?

I once had an enlightened moment about taking the Lord’s name in vain. It was in a lively discussion with my church about profanity (of all things!) The talk was all centered around the usual arguments: which words are bad, which words are good; the difficulty with intent – saying fiddle sticks instead of fuck, what’s the real difference if your meaning is the same; really choice words like God damn it – is this really laying down a curse or what. Then it hit me. If we are truly made in God’s image and if God’s name is I AM, isn’t saying things like “I am ugly”, “I am worthless”, “I am stupid” really taking the Lord’s name in vain? It really made us all stop and think.

Now, this is far from a Christian book. But the truth is the truth, wherever you can find it. And the truth is, we all need to start loving ourselves and the wonderful gift that God made us to be. There is no one else just like me. There is no one else here that can fulfill my destiny.

So now everyday, I try to tell myself “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like me.”
No WAIT! That’s just wishy washy drivel. But I AM beautiful, intelligent, passionate, caring, and successful. And I deserve a life of joy, excitement, and wonder.