... continued from Cover
so precious,” and all of them will eagerly tell anyone they can that there’s a new baby in the house. We can’t wait to see how they react to her other phases and milestones. They say change is the only constant, and our family won’t stay the same forever. But we’re having fun enjoying this unique moment in time while it lasts. As our kids get older, we look forward to all the ways in which they’ll challenge and surprise us. Whatever comes our way, we’ll face it together as a family. –Sierra & Kevin Bennett
experience. They were too young to remember much about their other siblings being infants. They’re all absolutely smitten with their new sister, and they want to be involved in everything she does. It’s not just that they constantly want to kiss and hold her — even changing a diaper draws a crowd because they want to feel like they’re a part of it all. Thankfully, there hasn’t been any jealousy or annoyance, and they all fell in love with her instantly. Our 6-year-old is prone to saying, “She’s
SPEAK TO THE FUTURE YOU WANT HOW AFFIRMATIONS ADVANCE YOUR GOALS
Have you ever given yourself a pep talk? We can all use one now and then. There’s a reason we talk ourselves up when we’re feeling fearful or nervous — because it works. Some people build on that success by incorporating positive affirmations into their daily lives. Affirmations are all the things we tell ourselves, and many of them are subconscious. They reveal a lot about our attitudes and the lives we lead. Sometimes, they’re positive, like when we think, “I’ll figure this out,” or, “Everything will turn out fine.” Other times, the affirmations are negative, like “Bad things always happen to me.” They can also take on a meaner tone, like, “I’m lazy and stupid.”
realities and keep us from seeing the good in life. They also make us less likely to seek improvement. When we repeatedly tell ourselves that things are awful, we start to believe it. Soon, we stop seeing hope for the future. We all struggle with negative self- talk in one form or another, but you can slowly but surely create a brighter future with positive affirmations. Studies show that positive affirmations are linked to improved work, lower stress, and fewer mental health conditions. In other words, our brains eventually start to believe the things we tell them — even if they feel silly or we were doubtful when we started. But affirmations are not about lying to yourself; they’re about looking at your life, finding the good, and then
reminding yourself of it. Some examples include, “I am proud of myself” and “I am not defined by my mistakes.” Affirmations are also an excellent motivational tool, as long as your goals are realistic and achievable. Sadly, “I will be a millionaire” will probably not work — but “I am successful and capable of growth” likely will. If you’re ready to start, make your affirmations brief and specific and write them down. Try placing them somewhere prominent and take time to repeat them out loud every day with confidence and enthusiasm. It might feel a little foolish at first, but over time, replacing your negative self-talk with positive affirmations will become second nature, as will your improved happiness.
Negative affirmations, also known as negative self-talk, can shape our
2
kentucky.seniorhealth.pro
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator