In thinking about favorite childhood toys and how they’ve shaped the adult I’ve become, my memory turned to the Jack-In-The-Box. I recalled how much I loved Jack. Sometimes I’d turn the handle very quickly. Other times I’d barely make it go ‘round. Always, I tried to anticipate when Jack, with his winsome smile and outstretched arms, would pop up from inside the box. I played a game with myself, always trying to see if I could, somehow, avoid being surprised, just this once. But, even when he popped up slowly, Jack, like life, always won. I was never quite able to keep from being surprised by him.
  

As an adult, I see that life is like Jack. We try to anticipate what will happen next. We worry about it. We wring our hands. We make an attempt to prepare for it. And then, when we’re not looking, we get surprised by what has “popped up.” What we learn is that we can never really plan for all that life has to offer us – both good and bad. The best we can do is to be resilient enough to deal with the not-so-good and be open enough to accept the gifts that life sends our way.  It’s also a good idea not to stay in “surprise mode” for too long. All too often, valuable time goes by while we’re waiting to adjust to something new. On the other hand, we shouldn’t act too quickly because haste could take us on the wrong path. Balance and flexibility seem to be part of the process. All of this takes practice and with practice, we gain the wisdom to know how to handle the Jacks-In-The-Box that come our way.

What’s worked for me is to know, without question, that life is full of surprises. That’s what Jack taught me all those years ago. Life’s surprises give me the opportunity to try something new – they let life take me in a direction I might not have planned on but have learned I can make work. I suppose that most of all, I’ve learned to embrace the change. Fighting change is an exercise in futility.  It just doesn’t do any good. It wastes time. Inviting change in and looking for the benefit in the newness, seems to me, to be an easier way to approach life.
                                                                     © 2012 Jeanette Isabella.  All rights reserved.

In my book, “Someday Is Here!,” I have a section on affirmations.  Affirmations are one of the most powerful tools you can use to deal with self-doubt and indecision. The magic of affirmation is simple:  when you repeatedly tell yourself that you already are who you want to be, you will begin to believe in yourself enough to make your statement a reality.
  

Repeating positive statements about the way you want your life to be in the future sets the stage for making those things happen. We all use affirmations every day and most of us have no trouble making them when we speak negatively about ourselves. We have no trouble saying things like, 

I never get anything done.
I'm late for every appointment.

I’ll never lose weight, stop smoking, get a better job, have a good relationship, and on, and on, and on.  

We do, however, seem to have a problem with making positive statements about ourselves. I’m going to share some of the affirmations that are in my book with you. Please read them slowly so that you’ll be able to really get their meaning. Don’t worry if they don’t feel true at this moment. Remember, this is a process that sets the stage for the future.

I feel good about myself.

My life is full and abundant.

I have plenty to share and to spare.

I deserve goodness.

I am fully focused.

Accomplishment is easy for me.

I have unlimited energy.

I am healthy, happy, and successful.

I achieve my goals.

Time expands to fill all my needs.

I know what to do and I do it.
                                                                        © 2012 Jeanette Isabella.  All rights reserved.