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2 p 101 Exercises for the Soul
Your Coach,
Dr. Bernie S. Siegel
1
CHAPTER
ATTITUDE IS
EVERYTHING
Don’t sweat the small or the large stuff
(and save on the cost of deodorant)
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6 p 101 Exercises for the Soul
Exercise 1
GRATITUDE LIST
Something to Remember
Why are you living this life? Do you ever stop to think
about it? Or are you too busy complaining and whin-
ing? Gratitude is one of the best ways to improve your
attitude and feel better. You can’t be troubled and grate-
ful at the same time. This exercise can be repeated often
and will always obtain the same results.
Get a pen and paper and sit down in a quiet place
where you won’t be interrupted. Start by making a list
of at least twenty things you are grateful for in your life.
You might start with basic necessities like having a roof
over your head, a chair to sit on, food to eat, a warm bed
at night, and so on. Then continue with the more mean-
ingful and personal areas of your life, such as your friends,
family, work, pets, and health.
When you finish, display the list where you will see
it often, especially when troubling thoughts start surfac-
ing. Keep adding to your list over the next several weeks,
and take the time every day to read it to remind yourself
of all the things in your life you are grateful for.
Attitude Is Everything p 9
Exercise 2
AFFIRMATIONS
What You Say to Yourself Counts
Your intentions and desires shape your future. When
you create affirmations about what you desire, and stop
visualizing what you fear, your goals are far more likely
to manifest themselves. This is because you are prepar-
ing yourself and your life for the results you desire.
Take a sheet of paper and draw a vertical line down
the middle of the paper. Then take a few minutes to
think about all of the major aspects of your life, such as
your body, your job, your mate, and so on. Note any
negative thoughts, even if they are just momentary, and
write them down in the left column. When you’ve fin-
ished your review, read through the negative thoughts
you’ve collected. Now take these thoughts and turn
them into positive statements in the right column. For
instance:
From the book 101 Exercises for the Soul. Copyright © 2005
by Bernie S. Siege. Reprinted with permission of New
World Library, Novato, CA. www.newworldlibrary.com
or 800/972-6657 ext. 52.