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Change Your Self-Talk/Soul-Talk,
Change Your Life
Inspirational speaker and author shares how blindness provided her
with deeper insight to the impact of inner-words.
Los Angeles, Calif —Jennifer Rothschild’s life drastically changed at the age of
fifteen when she lost her sight. Through the years, she struggled with the inner-thoughts
she calls “self-talk” that shook her confidence and left her feeling insecure and
frustrated. Despite these moments, Rothschild has found fulfillment through her
faith, her marriage and her children.
Rothschild has
shared her inspiring message to the arena sized audiences of the popular Women
of Faith conferences, and media outlets including Dr. Phil, Good Morning America,
The 700 Club and The Billy Graham
Special. In her new book release, Self
Talk, Soul Talk: What to Say When You Talk to Yourself (Harvest House
Publishers), Rothschild reveals seven key sayings that will bring balance and
wellness to the soul including, Tune In. Look Up. Calm Down. Look Back. Chill
Out. Press On. Lift Up.
“Everyone
participates in a continuous silent dialogue of self talk using between 150 and
300 words a minute. These are grouped into 45,000 and 51,000 thoughts each day1” shares
Rothschild, “These thoughts can be constructive or poisonous, building or
damaging to our lives.”
Rothschild compares the minds’ “self
talk” to an overstuffed clothing closet—encouraging readers to clean out the
junk and fill it with a beautiful wardrobe. “We have to replace the hidden negative
thoughts and failures with positive truths and sensible soul talk,” says
Rothschild.
Many people find themselves struggling with self
esteem, body image, stress and other unhealthy thoughts and emotions. According
to Rothschild, what we think about often has a ripple effect on nearly every
area of our lives. “Soul talk is about replacing the lies you may have been
telling yourself with the truth,” she says.
In Self
Talk, Soul Talk, Rothschild examines a number of relevant topics, guiding
readers to:
Jennifer
Rothschild is the author of several books, including Lessons I Learned in the Dark. She is also a gifted recording
artist and founder of an online magazine for women, WomensMinistry.Net. Jennifer and her husband Dr. Phil Rothschild
reside near Springfield, MO with their two sons. For more information
about Jennifer, visit www.JenniferRothschild.com.
About Self Talk, Soul Talk: What to Say When You Talk
to Yourself:
Self Talk, Soul Talk: What to Say
When You Talk to Yourself by Jennifer Rothschild. Published by Harvest House Publishers. September 1, 2007.
Paperback, 225 pages. $12.99. ISBN: 978-0-7369-2072-8. 5 ½ by 8 ½.
1 Source: Joe Kolezynski, “Belief, Self
Talk, and Performance Enhancement,” Selfhelp
Magazine, www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/sports/selftalk.html.
###
Story Ideas Based on Self Talk,
Soul Talk
Soul Talk for Women: The Impact of a Woman’s Words
and Thoughts
Research shows that the average woman speaks 25,000
words per day. Even more shocking is the number of thoughts humans conceive
internally—up to 51,000 each day. This story will examine the impact of
thoughts and words on our daily lives, with practical tips for thinking more
positively to live a healthy, balanced life.
Living Beyond Adverse Circumstances
Rothschild is gifted at encouraging other women by
sharing her own personal struggles and accomplishments. This article would
equip women with the tools and mindset to recognize hope despite adverse
circumstances. Rothschild is an expert dealing with issues of self esteem, health
struggles, broken relationships, emotional struggles and spiritual frustration.
How Technology Has Freed Those with Disabilities
A behind the scenes story of how technology has
helped Jennifer Rothschild and other blind people overcome obstacles more
quickly. Rothschild has overcome her sight disability to embrace modern
technology, including the use of a computer and cell phone.
Encouraging Others Who Are Facing Blindness
A story or segment on how Jennifer helps and
encourages a young person or teen who is losing their sight or facing
blindness. One of Rothschild’s passions is equipping people with disabilities
to be successful.
Successfully Managing Daily Distractions
Rothschild outlines five common daily distractions
that prevent healthy thoughts (pages 69—70). Examine each distraction to unveil
how women can find balance and peace.
Chilling Out: Finding Rest in a Chaotic
Culture
In a culture that
applauds busyness and information overload, Rothschild suggests “A Game Plan
for Restoring Rest” on pages 145—147. This story would examine how women can
implement rest and relaxation into their daily lives.
- Divert
Daily: Each day, choose
a temporary diversion—mental, emotional or physical.
- Withdraw
Weekly: Take time each
week to pull back from your busy life.
- Abandon
Annual: A real vacation—a
once a year getaway—ushers in freedom from your busy schedule, liberty
from fatigue. The Latin word vacatio means freedom.
To
discuss story and excerpt ideas, contact Ben Laurro at
Pure Publicity at 818.753.4056 or Ben@purepublicity.com.
###
About Jennifer Rothschild
Author
of Self Talk, Soul Talk
“We
walk by faith, not by sight.” That phrase has echoed through the ages. For Jennifer
Rothschild, the words are much more than a simple verse in the Bible; they are
a reflection of how she lives her life.
At the young age of
fifteen, Jennifer was diagnosed with a rare, degenerative eye disease that
would eventually steal her sight. It was more than a turning point for the Miami, Florida
native. Her dreams of becoming a commercial artist and cartoonist faded. Words
and music have replaced her canvas and palette for more than twenty-five years.
Jennifer has taken her message of encouragement across the
country speaking at national and regional gatherings of women, busy professionals,
volunteers, and overwhelmed moms and dads. Rothschild has been a regular guest speaker for the nation’s
largest conference for women, Women of Faith, and has teamed up with Beth Moore and others to lead national
women’s conferences. Thousands have come away with a new vision for
their work, their family, and their future. While she shares life-giving
principles with arena-sized audiences, she also enjoys leading small groups of
women and college students at her church home. Her mission is to encourage and
equip women to have a tenacious faith.
Known for her substance,
and a down-to-earth style, Jennifer weaves together colorful illustrations,
universal principles, and music to help audiences find contentment, walk with
endurance, and celebrate the ordinary. Through her signature wit and poignant
story-telling, audiences are prompted to look beyond their circumstances to
find unique “gifts,” in unusual packaging.
Jennifer’s books include Lessons I Learned in the Dark (Multnomah), Lessons I Learned in the Light (Multnomah), Fingerprints of God
(Multnomah), and two video-enhanced Bible studies, Fingerprints of God (LifeWay) and Walking By Faith (LifeWay), and the upcoming release Self Talk, Soul Talk (Harvest House
Publishers). In addition to her writing and speaking, Jennifer is an
accomplished songwriter and recording artist, with six albums to her credit
including Walking by Faith, and Along the Way.
She has been featured on
notable television shows as Dr. Phil The Billy Graham Television Special, The Hour of Power, TBN, At Home with Chuck and
Jenny, Living the Life, and The 700 Club. Audience favorites include
her guest appearances on Family Life Today Radio and Life Today with James and
Betty Robison. Her life experience has been featured in numerous national and
regional publications including Today's
Christian Woman (May-June 2007), Home
Life, SpiritLed Woman, Connections, Virtue magazine, Becoming
Family magazine, Miami Herald, and
the Palm Beach Post.
Jennifer
is also co-founder and publisher of the popular online magazine, WomensMinistry.NET.
She resides in Springfield,
Missouri with her husband of
twenty years, Dr. Philip Rothschild, and their two sons, Clayton and Connor.
She enjoys nature walks, visits to theme parks, and riding a bicycle built for
two. She got a real charge singing the national anthem for the Atlanta Braves
and bungee-jumping from seven and a half stories. In addition to collecting
Depression glass and listening to books, she loves classical music, dark
chocolate, and the fragrance of a hazelnut-coffee candle.
###
Q&A with Jennifer
Rothschild
Author
of Self Talk, Soul Talk
What is soul talk?
Over the years, I have gradually learned what to say when I talk to myself, and
that has truly made all the difference in my life. After years of struggling
beneath the weight of my own slander and lies, I have learned to speak truth
into my soul. It’s what I call soul talk.
How does soul talk work?
Everybody practices self talk,
but few of us actually take time to think about the things we say to ourselves.
The process is so natural we don’t even notice it. Amazingly, much of our self talk
is false. The words we say shape the way we think about ourselves. They
influence our emotions, our thoughts, and our decisions. They resurface in our
conversations with other people. They can spur us on to live meaningful,
productive lives, or they can drag us down to lethargy and despair. Soul talk
is about replacing the lies you may have been telling yourself with the truth.
What kinds of struggles with self talk have you had personally?
My steady flow of disapproving thoughts and self
talk once formed a constant stream. I badgered, nagged, devalued, and said
cutting words to myself. At times, all those dark, negative put-downs have felt
like a raging river, tossing me mercilessly until I thought I might drown in my
own self-condemnation.
What was the physical setback that you faced in your teens?
At the age of 15, I became legally blind due to a
disease called retinitis pigmentosa. Even though I received that difficulty with
grace and resolve, the extra challenges of the disability and the knowledge
that blindness was inevitable brought even more opportunities for me to
struggle with negative thoughts and destructive self talk. For me, blindness is
a circumstance that opens the door to a host of other bewildering issues. One
of the biggest daily realities I face is the stress of not being able to drive,
read, or enjoy independence.
What is the paradox of emotions?
If you try to think with your feelings, you’ll fall
into all manner of false conclusions. Emotions are supposed to serve and
strengthen us. Left to themselves, however, they enslave and deplete us. We
need a thought closet well stocked with timeless truth, or we will clothe
ourselves with the feelings of the moment.
How important is physical well-being including exercise and healthy
eating?
Living a healthy lifestyle is so important to our
mental well-being. Never discount the impact of physical wellness on our souls’
wellness. Feelings of despair might really be our bodies’ signal that we need
to meet some basic needs. Your body needs adequate rest, healthy food, and
moderate exercise.
How important is mental well-being? How can we stimulate this?
Brains like to be challenged. Your mind needs to
have something to do, or it will create something to do—something that might
not be so constructive. If you don’t fully strengthen your brain, it will
wiggle and jiggle itself just to alleviate the dullness and find a channel for
all its energy. Spend a few minutes each day reading something that interests
and challenges
you. Pick up a journal and record your thoughts and
questions. Join a book club or audit a class from your local university. Feed
your curiosity and you’ll stimulate an enjoyable, insatiable hunger.
How important is our spiritual well-being?
Hopelessness, fear and depression often grow out of
unsatisfied longings. C.S. Lewis said, “If I can find in myself a desire which
no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that
I was made for another world.” We can try to fill the longing with
relationships, religion, volunteerism, or just being good. But the deep ache
from the bottom of our souls can only be satisfied in a relationship with God.
Is it healthy to remember the past? What memories should we revisit?
The real power of any moment is fully realized when
it is remembered. The experience might have been painful or pleasant, but its
intensity and meaning grow when we remember and reflect upon it. Remembering is
essential to the health of our souls. So we must tell our souls to look back
often. Memories store great anthologies of stories that tell us who we are.
They become intimate reminders of our personal histories. However, tell your
soul to look back only at what is profitable. Profitable memories are those
that add to your soul wellness rather than subtract from it.
How destructive can fear become in our lives? What’s the alternative?
We can’t ever side with fear, because fear is never
on our side. And we can’t let fear and despair shake and intimidate us. Fear
betrays; hope never does. Fear and despair make us quiver; hope makes us
unshakable. Rather than giving into fear and despair, we tell our souls to
hope. Hope will always be on your side, cheering you on and defending you. Hope
anchors us because it provides spiritual grounding. Hope brings stability to
every part of our being: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. We speak
the language of hope when we tell our souls to look up.
How can we cope with our busy lifestyles? Where can we find time to
rest?
Life is busy. The demands are great, and we seem to
have no time for rest. So much of our self-talk is directed at revving
ourselves up. Excessive revving up, however, only leads to petering out. Daily
we must tell ourselves to chill out. Rest isn’t only for our tired bodies.
Weary souls need it too—our wills, our minds, and our emotions. The choice to
rest is ours.
How can we press on despite fear and failure?
Steady, small actions will slowly reduce the big
feeling that is paralyzing you. Just because you have failed at something does
not mean you are a failure. If you quit, the world will be lacking what you
alone bring to it. If you continue to feed your feelings of failure and defeat,
those dark emotions will grow, creeping across your soul like long winter
shadows. But if you begin to starve those feelings, they will slowly die.
How can we become less selfish and “others centered”?
It’s our nature to lift ourselves up, to be
egocentric. Looking back at my life, I can say for sure that the most miserable
times of my life have been when I was the most self-centered, self-aware and
self-promoting. When we tell our souls to get the spotlight off our own
preoccupations and onto the needs of others, we reopen the potential for joy in
our lives. Only selfless, other-centered people are truly happy. They have
learned the all-important key. When we lift others up, we grow stronger,
healthier and happier.
For
an interview with Jennifer Rothschild, contact Ben Laurro at
Pure Publicity at 818.753.4056 or Ben@purepublicity.com.
###
Interview Questions for Jennifer
Rothschild
Author
of Self Talk, Soul Talk
1.
What is self talk? When did you realize the impact
of it in your life?
2.
How did your blindness impact your self-talk?
3.
What are some common false expectations women put
on themselves?
4.
What can women do to say healthier words to
themselves?
5.
How can women overcome the fear in their lives?
6.
What are some of the daily distractions that we
struggle with?
7.
How important is hope to our thought lives?
8.
How do we loosen the grip of control of our lives?
9.
How can we learn to control anger and other
damaging “outbursts”?
10. You write that it’s important for us to look back
on our memories. Which memories should we revisit? What about painful memories?
11. What are some practical ways women can “calm down”
and quiet our souls?
12. What can we do daily, weekly, and yearly to find
more rest and relaxation?
13. What are some common motivation killers?
14. How important is perseverance when we fail? Why not
just give up? What about big mistakes? How can we move past them and not dwell
on them?
15. How can we switch our focus from ourselves to
become “others focused”?
For
an interview with Jennifer Rothschild, contact Ben Laurro at
Pure Publicity at 818.753.4056 or Ben@purepublicity.com.
###
