The Power of Positive Thinking

God (or the universe, or Allah, or Yahweh) works in mysterious ways.  It’s fascinating how seemingly meaningless events can converge to create a pivotal point in your life.

Such an occurrence happened for me when I was 11.  I found myself without reading matter and no way to get to the library.  For me, this was a desperate condition.  There were, however, built-in bookcases in the kitchen.  My parents were not big readers, but they wanted the bookcase to look nice, so they filled them with my aunt’s used hardcover books.

I had passed over those books so many times.  One time I picked up “The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit,” but couldn’t get past more than a few pages.  I guess the personal dilemma of a corporate executive was not applicable to an 11-year-old.

But as I said, I was desperate.  So I went back to the bookcase, and rifled through a few books before settling on Norman Vincent Peale’s “The Power of Positive Thinking.”   This, it turned out, was destiny.

At that age I was introverted and socially awkward.  I was invited to birthday parties, and played outside at recess, but couldn’t seem to make the close friendships that I deeply desired.

Now on the precipice of junior high, I was longing for some connection.  Peale’s book gave me that.  Its tone is certainly Christian, and I was and am a Christian (though not a dogmatic one); but it is more than that.  His advice helped me to set aside my fears and insecurities and replace them with love.  Outwardly I went from a shy, quiet introvert to a warm, personable person.  Inwardly I felt the loving connection with others.  My classmates became my focus; I listened and related.  I was no longer focused so much on myself.  This positive thinking showed itself in my outlook and in my relationships.

I didn’t worry about attaining popularity, I just lived these principles.  As a result, I became very happy indeed!  Ironically, I also became popular; but the happiness came first.

So now, 45 years later, I still believe in the power of positive thinking.  This view has matured a bit as I’ve gathered more life experience.  Today I know that you cannot make yourself only think positive thoughts.  Thoughts just happen.  You note when they arise, you see them drift away.  So instead of positive thinking, it’s more like positive “being.”

It’s a deeply-felt belief that is under all of the thoughts.  It’s the belief that all things work together for good.  Even if you don’t see it immediately, the tragedies and sorrows of life have purpose and are good.  This belief is the way to happiness, and it’s the way to peace.

New Year’s Resolutions and Homeopathy

Happy New Year! Issue: January 2010 In This Issue Resolutions..Make them? New Fee Schedule a thought… We will open the book.   It’s pages are blank.  We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day. Edith Lovejoy Pierce Quick Links Visit Website About Homeopathy Colds and Flus Location/Fees New Year’s Resolutions…Make them? It’s a new year, and for many it is a time for making resolutions.  We see ads in the media for products to help with issues such as weight loss and smoking cessation.   Many of these products may contribute to the cause, but often don’t address the central issue.  Scientists believe that cravings arise from deficient neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin.  So when resolving to give up white sugar, for example, you are not just dealing with your will-power, but with out-of-balance brain chemistry as well. Homeopathy always addresses the central issue.  It treats the entire individual, not just a craving, and does it totally naturally.  The homeopathic patient experiences gradual inner balance across all body systems, including the brain.  One of the first indications of a well-chosen homeopathic remedy is a change of mood and energy.  This often seems to translate to a desire to take better care of one’s health; and as a result, the patient begins to eat and exercise to greater effect.   Many homeopathic patients seem to have less of an inner struggle to follow a healthy regime. So instead of taking that new weight-loss product which overtakes the body’s natural wisdom and possibly causes side effects, try homeopathy.  Your body knows what to do: it just needs a little nudge. New Fee Schedule As of February 1, 2010, there will be an increase in fees for initial consultations for new clients (see website for details).  In addition, the minimum remedy cost will be changing from $10 to $12.  For our existing clients, follow-up visit costs are remaining the same. Email Marketing by Family Homeopathy LLC | 11800 Singletree Lane, Suite 204 | Eden Prairie | MN | 55347

Surviving the Holidays with Homeopathy

Happy Holidays! Issue: December 2009
In This Issue A Story of Surviving the Holidays with Homeopathy A Holiday Story a thought… “Healing,” Papa would tell me, “is not a science, but the intuitive art of wooing nature.” W. H. Auden Quick Links Visit Website About Homeopathy Colds and Flus Location/Fees	A Story of Surviving the Holidays with Homeopathy Note: The following story is fictional, and only meant to represent a possible scenario of homeopathic treatment and recovery.   It may take several tries to find a person’s most ideal constitutional remedy, even though earlier remedies help somewhat.  Recovery times also vary due to factors such as vitality of the patient, the length of time chronic illness has been present, and environmental obstacles to cure. A Holiday Story… Jane and John Doe and their 5 year old daughter, Jill, were preparing to enter the holiday season.  This was the first time in several years that Jane felt peaceful and was sleeping well during this time.  She credited it to the fact that she had been under constitutional homeopathic treatment for the past year. The first 6 months of the year she had seen her homeopath several times, receiving her constitutional remedy on occasion.  Her migraines had virtually disappeared during that time, and she was feeling less stressful.   After the initial 6 months, she was doing so well that she stopped making regular appointments and only called her homeopath as needed.  She also noticed that when everyone around her was getting the H1N1 influenza this past fall, she managed to avoid it. Now the holidays were approaching.  Jane had been meaning to take Jill in for constitutional treatment, but it just hadn’t happened yet.  Then Jill came down with an extremely painful ear infection.  Jill’s ear pain was so intense, that she screamed every time her ear was touched.  She demanded to be carried around the house, and yet was not happy with anything her parents did to appease her.  Jane called her homeopath who in turn suggested giving Jill Chamomilla 30C every 2 to 4 hours.  At the first dose, Jill fell asleep, and when she awoke was much less irritable.  The pain was much less, and within 24 hours she was dancing to Christmas music, nearly her old self. John was not so sure about homeopathy.  He saw that his wife was better, but he thought that could just be a placebo effect.  Then he fell off the roof hanging Christmas lights.  The bushes broke his fall, but he was pretty banged up and sore.  Jane gave him Arnica 200C every few hours, and the next day he felt great-and ready to go chop down their Christmas tree. He got to try homeopathy again after the office holiday party.  He had a bit too much of the spiked punch, and woke with a ferocious hangover: he had a headache aggravated by noise and light, and felt like he had to vomit.  Jane called her homeopath who suggested he take Nux Vomica 30C every 2 to 4 hours.  With the first dose the nausea disappeared and the headache lessened.  By that evening he felt a little tired, but otherwise great. That year John made a New Year’s resolution:  to make an appointment with a homeopath to get constitutional treatment.

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Dream Analysis 101–part 1

People often share their dreams with me, and ask me what I think they mean.   My response to this is “what do you think they mean?”   Often people can relate them immediately to current problems in their lives, and then use them to gain insight and guidance.

When it is not so obvious what the dream means, there are several steps you can take.   Avoid running to the dream dictionary as a first step.  Instead try to encapsulate the dream into a one-sentence theme, restating the action in the dream in a simple, general way.  For example, you might dream that you have given birth to a baby and are running around trying to find food for it so it won’t die.  The theme might be “Someone is trying to feed something new so it can live.”

Then you may begin to work with the symbols in the dream.  Dream symbols may be personal, or they may have more common cultural or universal significance.   In the example above, the baby could represent your own child, or it may represent a new beginning.

Therefore this dream could mean that in your real life you are frantically trying to find what will nurture your child.  Or it could mean you are beginning a new venture, and are trying to find support to keep it alive.

As you work with the dream symbols and themes, see where they may fit into your life, and what kind of guidance or insight you can reap from that.   Let’s say I had this dream, and I have also decided to write a blog.  So this dream could mean for me to do things that will support this new activity such as to go to a blogging class or to read other blogs.  Or maybe the frantic nature of the dream is a statement about how I am dealing with this new beginning; maybe it is better to be centered and calm when starting to blog.

Happy dreaming!