EARLY MEMORIES

When I begin analyzing a patient's life-style, one of the first questions I ask is,"What is your earliest childhood memory?" It is amazing how often the first memory can give insight into a person's overall lifestyle. That first memory, selected from among hundreds of other early incidents, is an excellent indicator of how we look at life. Whereas there are thousands of incidents that happen to all of us in our earliest years, we tend to remember most clearly those that are consistent with how we see ourselves in relationship to others!

What is your first memory? Do you remember being embarrassed and ashamed because you had done something wrong? Perhaps you had wet your pants in front of the other kids and they were laughing at you? Or do you remember your father taking you on his lap and telling you that the drawing you just made was a wonderful work of art?

There isn't a person alive who hasn't done something embarrassing at one time or another and found himself the subect of derisive laughter. And there arn't too many who haven't experienced at least a few victories. But if you center on the embarrassments and the mistakes, you may be following a life-style that leads to futher rejection and humiliation. If, on the other hand, you are a person who tends to forget the embarrassaments altogether, and focus on the times you did well and made others proud of you, your life-style will be one of healthy self-respect. And a major key toward success in life is self-respect!!

I hope this can be of help to you as you continue down life's path.--Kevin


Taken from "When Your Best Isn't Good Enough" by Dr Kevin Leman-Baker Publishing Group