Mary Beth Svatek’s 5-year-old granddaughter, Ruthie, recently stopped eating her homemade lunches at preschool. When Ruthie’s mom, Nejla, questioned this, Ruthie explained that her classmates said, “Tell your mom to pack more snacks. Your lunches are boring!” Mortified by their criticism, Ruthie didn’t want the other kids to see her eating fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, yogurt and homemade, gluten-free buttered rolls. So, she’d go hungry until the ride home. 

Later, Nejla offered Ruthie a pickle, one of her favorite snacks, and Ruthie informed her that she no longer eats them because Sara says pickles are disgusting. Nejla responded, “Do you like pickles?” The answer was a resounding yes. “Why would you give up a food that you love just because Sara doesn’t like it?” Ruthie sat quietly. Nejla again offered her a pickle and Ruthie happily accepted and devoured two pickles.

Nejla thought she had taught Ruthie self-confidence during her first five years, but realized the importance of revisiting this each time her child enters a new environment or phase of life.

Sadly, many people grow up without ever knowing themselves. Perhaps they were trained from birth to be a chameleon, to please the crowd or the adults in their lives never realized their children had hidden their own attributes buckling under peer pressure.

“My favorite part of being a Life Coach and Hypnotherapist is enabling someone to become their true self. As they step into their own shoes and release the superficial people and things that have held them hostage, the natural manifestation calls forward their unique gifts.  Even better, is watching them fall in love with their authentic self; that person who was there all along, waiting to be authentically awesome,” says Mary Beth Svatek, owner of The Energy Model of Therapeutic Change.

For more information about The Energy Model of Therapeutic Change call 251-300-9912 or follow on Facebook.