Sometimes, especially when I am going through stressful times, I need to remind myself to take a step back, take a deep breath and recenter. I remember a time in my life when I was feeling especially positive and a poem I wrote for a friend at the time. Here it is:
Self Affirmation
I have permission to take care of myself.
I exercise and eat right
Because I love the “me” I see in the mirror.
When I take care of myself,
I look at the world through clearer eyes,
As I rest quietly,
Meditating upon the positives in my life,
Inverting problems to find solutions,
Decisions come more easily,
I have patience with myself and others,
Strength returns with my convictions.
Peace and happiness reside in my heart,
I feel joy in waking to a new day,
My energy is refreshed.
Darian Slayton Fleming
Christmas, 2000