GREETINGS/WELCOME EVERYONE TO WOMEN’S CORNER. 

WHAT IF SCENARIOS  

What if we said things the way they are ……’ 

What if real life were more like the movies….’ 

What if one could choose to forget certain memories…..’ 

What if God should come down today……….’ 

WHY WOMEN’S CORNER? 

The Conversation/Discussion forum on various Life issues for women of all ages and background.  

THE AIM  

To promote our overall well-being. 

To appreciate and value who we are. 

Great personal qualities and skills that we possess.  

Challenges that we face. 

Learn how we can re-evaluate our lives and embrace change for our good. 

Identify practical solutions that will enable us to re-discover who we are, accept ourselves and be THE BEST US!  

SO, WHAT IS A WOMAN TO YOU?  

In the bible, Proverbs 31 ends with a detailed description of a woman with strong character and outstanding abilities. We can learn from her industry, integrity, and resourcefulness. 

THE TOPIC FOR TODAY’S PRESENTATION. 

TIME FOR CHANGE: TO EMBRACE THE NEW YOU! 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

 Warm Up Exercises x 2 

Quickly jot down on paper (or do it mentally), one thing that you value most about yourself.  

Trainer Feedback – Loving /Valuing self makes one feel good. It empowers one to reach out to others. It is impossible to really love yourself unless you have self-approval and self-acceptance.  

2. ‘I LOVE AND I ACCEPT MYSELF.’ Exercise 

Say this over to yourself for 1 minute and be serious about it. You can sit, stand, or walk about in the room where you are. 

Feedback - How did that feel?  

Trainer Feedback -  

Creative self-expression promotes Good Health.  

It asserts one and gives self-acceptance, brings a sense of self-worth and self-approval. 

A process of challenging, discovering oneself. 

Declaring positive statements about yourself opens the channels in your consciousness to create that.  

So, train your mind. Ignore those negative thoughts that come to mind. 

Start accepting and loving that self which is, YOU.  

3.  Embracing The New You! 

Starts from the heart!  

Why the Heart?  

The heart is an important organ meant for human survival. 

Source of everything else in our life.  

However, the heart can be deceived by the negative atmospheric influences. 

So, guard your heart and maintain a peaceful heart. How should we do this? 

Endeavour to resolve unpleasant issues as soon as possible for a healthy life. 

Be careful of what you put your attention to. It grows and comes into fruition.  

Avoid/Put away grudges and bitterness. Endeavour to forgive quickly, let go and focus on other important things that lie ahead.  

WHAT ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS?  

Guard your thoughts and change your thinking pattern.  

Replace/Interpret those negative thoughts and experiences into more positive ones and in more productive ways to create opportunities for change (COGNITIVE REFRAMING).  

 EXERCISE.  Assuming your negative statement describes the following: 

1.I ruined my life. 2.My life is a disaster. 3.I am obese. 4.Others are better than me. 5.No one cares about me. 6.I hate my job. 7.I am not good enough. 8.I am lonely. 

I would like you to turn each negative statement around to something positive and beneficial.  

 Answers. 

1.I am in the process of making positive changes in my life. 

2. My life is great. 

3.I have a great and attractive body shape. 

4.I am the best and beautiful.  

5.I experience love wherever I go. 

6.I now create a wonderful new job.  

7.I merit the best and I accept it now.  

8.I have wonderful things to occupy me. 

We have seen that self-criticisms such as those illustrated above are just how people have trained their mind to berate themselves and be resistant to change.  

Ignore those negative thoughts that come to mind. Endeavour to replace them with more positive thoughts. 

Embrace thoughts that make you happy and bring hope in your life.  

Do things that make you feel good.  

Be with people that make you feel loved and valued.  

Eat things that make your body feel good.  

Engage in conversations that can build you up, empower you and add value to your life. 

I will share my best quote - Finally my fellow women ‘whatever is True, whatever is Noble, whatever is Right, whatever is Pure, whatever is Lovely, whatever is Admirable, if anything is Excellent or Praise Worthy, think about such things’ ……… and the peace of God will be with you’.  

6. SO, WHAT ARE THE RIGHT APPROACHES TO EMBRACE ‘THE NEW YOU’? (Jot down your own answers or do a mental note for yourself).  

Examine /Test yourself and be careful of your thoughts (as said before), conducts and motives.  

Be humble and honest with yourself to gradually get rid of your old self. Put them behind you like ‘old clothes thrown away and forgotten.’ It is hard but it takes perseverance and trust for a new you to emerge.  

Always remind yourself that you can no longer be deceived by the desires or impulses of your old self. 

 Remain focused to embrace the ‘New You.’ A new heart, a new creation, The New you! 

7. HOW CAN YOU ACHIEVE THIS? 

Jot down or do a mental note for yourself. 

Developing and having a positive mindset is a game changer. 

Changing your thinking patterns can change your life. 

The power of affirmation (e.g., ‘I love, and I accept myself’) lies in repeating them to yourself regularly to reinforce your positive belief and get rid of your negative old belief. 

Cultivating positive mental health. Do not underestimate the importance of nature. Physical exercise. Prayer walk is good. 

Consider reviewing your friendship groups e.g., associations that do not add value or that are detrimental to your overall well-being and growth. 

Making a daily conscious commitment to set aside time alone to pray, read (bible, books magazines etc.), do self-reflections to improve yourself all round and continue to improve your confidence. 

Enrich your life by thinking and reflecting about things in society that matter most to you, example family, relationships, voluntary work in the community, visits to homeless shelter.  ‘The unexamined life is not worth living’ (Socrates). 

 Reminding yourself that you are bringing something new into your life. A Fresh Start. 

‘The New You’! Tell yourself - ‘I am    embracing The New Me’! 

 So, get back up! You may have fallen too many times; you will rise again to ‘Embrace ‘The New You.’  

CONCLUSION 

Change is necessary for all human beings so we can move forward in life, experience new and exciting things. Example - Learning new skills and working to improve your inner self. 

In my experience, I have come to realize that every moment of my life is a new beginning point as I move from the old. I believe that this moment will be a new point of beginning for you, starting from now.  

‘All is well in my world.’ Should be the positive affirmation of your faith! Believe it, no matter what you are going through right now. 

 ‘I LOVE AND I ACCEPT MYSELF’ exercise should be your walking chant/incantation. Learn to Love/accept yourself. It makes you feel good. Forgive yourself and forgive those who have hurt you.  

The old is gone, the new has come. So, celebrate and embrace ‘The New You.’ 

GREAT QUOTES:  

1.‘LIFE IS EVER CHANGING, IT IS NEVER STUCK, STATIC OR STALE, FOR EACH MOMENT, IT IS EVER NEW AND FRESH’.- Louis Hay. 

I hope that this moment will be a new point of beginning for you as you move from the old, starting from now! 

2.‘As I WALKED OUT THE DOOR TOWARD THE GATE THAT WOULD LEAD TO MY FREEDOM, I KNEW IF I DIDN’T LEAVE MY BITTERNESS AND HATRED BEHIND, I WOULD STILL BE IN PRISON’. - Nelson Mandela.