HealthyLife Articles

Tag: praise

  • Say Nice Things To Yourself

    Healthylife® Weigh

    Part 4

    Woman holding red heart shape.

    These nice things are called affirmations. What you say to yourself is powerful. You may not strongly believe it at first, but keep going.

    1. State your affirmation in the present tense.

    2. Say what you want, rather than what you don’t want.

    3. Include feeling words that add positive emotion.

    4. Be specific about what you want, rather than being vague.

    5. Make the words simple and easy to remember.

    Here are a few ideas.

    *  I am special and unique.

    *  I am proud to be me.

    *  I take care of my body.

    *  I trust myself.

    *  I am thankful for my life.

    *  I love to play and have fun.

    *  I am a good friend.

    *  I love to learn.

    *  I am courageous.

    *  I am lovable.

    *  I am gentle and strong.

    *  I am learning from this experience.

    *  I choose to respect myself.

    *  I choose to be in control.

    *  I am in control of many things, but not all things.

    Start today.Choose one or two affirmations. Write this statement on a sticky note and put it where you will see it, like the bathroom mirror or on your computer monitor. Say it out loud or repeat it silently to yourself.

    The Poisoned Parrot

    Imagine you have a parrot. This parrot repeats everything you say about yourself, over and over again. It comments on your life, especially the things that go wrong.

    For example, you come home with several bags of treats and soda. The parrot squawks, “There you go again. You’re never going to lose weight. You could have made a list, but you didn’t. You keep saying you’re going to change, but you aren’t. You’re never going to change your habits.”

    How do you feel? How long would you put up with this parrot? Don’t put up with a bully in your head. Notice this “parrot” and cover the cage.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Tips To Help Kids Succeed

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of kid holding an 'A' graded paper with thumbs up.

    Parenting is not an easy job, and it seems there are thousands of ways to do it. With so many parenting books and techniques available, how do you know what works? Sometimes, it helps to go back to the basics. You don’t have to be perfect or read every parenting book on the market.

    Years of research from medical experts says the following parenting tips will help keep your kids healthy and happy:

    *Be loving.Kids need love every day. Tell them you love them and give hugs and kisses.

    *Give them comfort.If a child is scared, help them to feel safe. Take steps to protect them and help them cope with fears.

    *Spend time with them.Set aside time each day to focus on them, and put the phones and devices away during this time. Point out good things they do. Be specific. For example, you might say, “I’m really proud of you for cleaning your room without being asked.”

    *Be a good listener.No matter what the topic, kids will feel valued if you look at them and listen to what they say.

    *Use a routine.Kids like to know what’s coming next. Set times for bed, meals and simple chores to help them feel secure.

    *Forgive mistakes.Help them by saying what they could do next time to avoid the mistake. Don’t criticize them as a person by saying, “you were bad.”

    *Have rules & stick to them.Parents, babysitters and other caregivers should follow the same rules. Don’t change them or let certain people break them. This only creates confusion and can lead to behavior problems.

    Even with the best advice, parents may need help from an expert. This doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent. Sometimes, talking to someone who can help makes a big difference. If you feel you need help with parenting, try the following resources:

    *  Your child’s pediatrician

    *  Your own primary doctor

    *  Local parenting classes at hospitals, schools or community centers

    *  A family counselor or minister

    *  Online support groups

    Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help. It’s a sign that you want to be the best parent you can be, and that’s a good thing!

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine