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The boys quickly got over an abrupt end to their camping trip when they saw the motel had a swimming pool and television — neither of which we had at home. The kids spent their days watching cartoons and splashing around, and Suzanne was happy to be back in civilization. For her part, Irma was thrilled to eat in restaurants and stop washing pots under outdoor faucets. In the end, our family had more fun bumming around the motel than we did on our originally planned vacation. After that experience, we stuck to camping by the beach, where there were no bears and creature comforts were only a few minutes away. They may not have been wilderness adventures, but they were a lot more harmonious and fun for everyone.
cook them. Unfortunately, they were carp, which is not a fish you want to eat. Still, they were having a great time.
But the outdoor life didn’t agree with Irma and our daughter, Suzanne. They couldn’t stand the dirt, mosquitoes, and especially the bathroom. Finding it in the dark was especially treacherous, and there was no lit pathway. They set out one night with a flashlight and heard animal noises nearby. Whether or not it was a bear, they had reached their breaking point. After a bit of a family quarrel, we packed up everything and drove down to civilization. We’d lasted almost a week out in nature, anyway. Since we still had plenty of time left on our vacation, we checked into a motel in Fresno.
–David & Irma Bennett
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
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