Shift (Among Other Things) Happens!

Months ago, during my winterlong addiction to all things PBS, I had the joy of watching Dr. Robert Holden's televised presentation of "Shift Happens!" (also the title and content of one of his books), which eloquently echoed several other programs and books that I read at that time.

Dr. Holden is part of the newish crop of positive-psychology gurus that are popping up in bookstores and on television screens everywhere, and his message is refreshing: "The more you accept yourself, the more every area of your life improves."

Dr. Robert Holden, courtesy of PBS.org

 He's all about self-acceptance, and his path to that goal consists of asking yourself the following questions:

1. "Are you willing to accept that there is more to you than your self-image?" (self-image being the "you" that you present to the world versus real self, which is the 24/7 "you")
2. "Can you accept that there is nothing wrong with you?" (I'm working on this one every day...)
3. "Can you accept that you are what you seek?" (I'm learning this.)
4. "Can you accept that if you stopped trying to improve yourself and practiced self-acceptance, your life would improve?" (Ah, this one is tricky!)
5. "Can you accept the possibility that if you think something is missing in your life, it is you?" (Yes.)

The key to happiness and increased self-esteem is self-acceptance, according to Dr. Holden. You hold that power within you, he's saying, and only you can make it happen. 

Here's a link to Dr. Robert Holden's presentation of "Shift Happens!"

I'm still working on processing and implementing these concepts, and I'll probably continue working on them for the rest of my life, but I know I'm closer than I was a few years ago, or even a few months ago. I've learned there's a domino effect either way: If you think negatively of yourself, you'll make unhealthy decisions and feel badly about yourself. If you practice positive thinking, you'll have increased self-esteem, make healthy decisions, and treat yourself lovingly and kindly. 

And once you start the pattern of positive living begins, it continues....

*You start to take care of yourself in big and little ways.

*You treat yourself to luxuries instead of only necessities.

*You recognize that you are worth your time and effort.

*You know that you deserve to be treated kindly, respectfully, and lovingly.

Growing in this knowledge is one of my primary goals. I want to work on accepting myself as I am. I want to understand that my worth is not based on my self-image but on my true self (the self that I don't always show to the world). I want to accept that there is nothing wrong with me. 

I want to realize that I don't need to change myself, as Dr. Holden asserts, I need to change my mind about myself.