Happy Easter!

I hope everyone had a Happy Easter!

You know how I volunteer with kids? Well, I was able to lead a self esteem workshop for the teen girls that was awesome! Some of the material was based on the Dove Real Beauty campaign - you may have seen their ads with "real" women - and then there were other parts that we added in. I recruited six other adult women and so we were able to work with the girls in small groups for some of the more intimate discussions. We talked about what all makes us beautiful and helped them actually acknowledge the beauty they had within them. This was a little hard for them to do, actually, especially when we had them look in a mirror and tell themselves something good. -- That difficulty told me they really needed it.

We started the day off with affirmations. We had the following affirmations in a bag and had each of the girls draw one and say it aloud. It was remarkable, we all noticed, how just the right affirmation found its way to just the right girl!

I am willing to see my magnificence.
I am worth loving.
I release all feelings of guilt.
I am perfect exactly as I am.
I am my own unique self.
I express my feelings openly, effortlessly, and without fear.
I am a powerful woman.
I am a natural winner.
I perceive my true being.
I freely express who I am.
I trust the intelligence within me.
I deserve love, joy, peace, success, and abundance.
I love and accept myself right now.
I am proud of who I am and not afraid to express it.
I speak and think positively.
I am in the process of making positive changes in all areas of my life.
I let go of all negativity that rests in my body and mind.
I am leading a very successful life!
I create my future now.
I rise above all limitations.
I have unlimited potential.
I dwell on positive thoughts.
I am a radiant being enjoying life to the fullest.

After multiple break-out sessions, our wrap-up activity was to create positive affirmation boards. The girls had as much fun with this as many of us adults have had making ours! It was such a wonderful experience! And, the women told me they got as much out of it as the girls! I am very lucky to have these opportunities!