I CAN DO IT CARDS - Louise L. Hay

By Lynsay Sharp View Profile
I had been feeling like I needed a bit of motivation in my life to get myself thinking more positively so I decided to give these cards a try. The set is a 60-card deck. Each card has a colourful picture and a message for positive thinking for the day ahead on both sides of the cards. The messages are all different and the topics they cover are wealth, health, romance, self-esteem, job success, creativity and overall positive thinking. There aren't any guidelines on how to use the deck really, so I decided just to shuffle the deck each day and choose a card at random. I would then read the card and stick it on my fridge for the rest of the day and re-read it very now and again.

I felt the cards did give me motivation each day each time I read them, but it didn't really sink in and I felt I had to keep reading the card to remember the message. I also found the pictures a little disappointing; they were very colourful but didn't always seem to reinforce the message in any way. However I did find that on 3 different occasions I picked the exact same card at random so I felt that the cards could be quite powerful and that they were telling me I really had to hear that particular message. I would use these cards as a fun way to get you to think a bit more positive for the day ahead.

By Cate Gardner View Profile
These cards come in a handy mini-disk sized case so they are easily accessible and can be kept in a pocket or bag to look at throughout the day. If you are looking to buy these cards for someone who is fit and healthy and wants to stay that way, then great! However, bear in mind the cards are so completely optimistic, that for someone who is ill they can represent the unattainable. As a very positive person, but one with disabilities and health problems I found it pretty hard to relate to these cards. They are very bright and colourful with a child-like style and each one is double-sided with an affirmation on both sides.

There are some fairly innocuous affirmations like: 'I make healthy choices. I have respect for myself'; 'I breathe deeply and fully. I take in the breath of life and I am nourished'; 'My happy thoughts help create my healthy body'. However running alongside these there are others - 'I look forward to a healthy old age because I take loving care of my body now'; 'Perfect health is my Divine right, and I claim it now; 'I am pain free and totally in sync with life.' I've come up with my own replacements for these: 'I can't look forward to a healthy old age, but I still look forward'; 'Perfect health would be nice, but so would a perfect bank balance'; 'I am pain free and totally in sync with life, due to the medication.' In fact I would add a final one: 'I've lost a few things along the fitness road, but hope I've kept my sense of humour. Although optimism is great and reality often sucks - I don't think I'll be dropping these in at the local hospice any time......more