The Big, Bad Bully – Book Reading and Self- Esteem Building Exercises

This is a recording of the virtual book reading that was live on October 30, 2019. THANK YOU to everyone who was able to participate LIVE, and for sharing this message with the children in your life. Join authors Jack Canfield and Miriam Laundry as they read the book and go over self-esteem building exercises. The following can be found at the times listed below:

• Reading of the story of the The Big, Bad Bully (0:00-9:25 min)
• Recognizing your Inner Bully (9:25 – 10:54)
• The Mirror Exercise – participation friendly (10:55 – 18:52)
• Changing “I CAN'T” to “I CAN” (18:53-22:10)
• Affirmations exercise – participation friendly (22:10 – 27:30)
• Acrostic poem with your name (27:30 – 29:00)
• Guided Visualization (29:00 – 35:00)
• Vision Boards (35:00 – 39:18)
• Q&A (39:18 – 56:00)

Book Description

This picture book is a gripping story of a young girl who is bullied year after year, struggling with self-esteem. But when she decides to stand up to her tormentor, what she discovers is truly eye-opening. The bully she confronts is herself!

The Big, Bad Bully is a tremendous tool for helping children become aware of their thoughts and it includes powerful workbook exercises and resources for implementing healthy self-esteem habits that will last a lifetime.

• Ages: grade 3-8
• Authors: Jack Canfield & Miriam Laundry
• Illustrator: Eva Morales
• Publisher: HCI Books

It's exactly seven more days until my new book launches! I am so excited, busy, nervous, and calm all at the same time. I didn’t know it was possible, but apparently it is. 

This book has been a few years in the making and it all started when I hit on an amazing way of making my own daughter aware of how her thought life was directly related to her self-esteem. Pointing out her positive qualities and saying that she shouldn’t speak to herself in such a negative way just blew right past her, but showing her that she was bullying herself struck home. 

That's when I decided to write The Big, Bad Bully. The more I shared the concept of this book, the more feedback I got about people relating to it, whether children or adults. Here is what Ashley, Grade 8, said when I read the book to her class:

“I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulder. It was so meaningful and very true about hearing that voice and feeling like you have to listen to it. I also feel like I'm not the only (one) who hears that voice and listens to it. It was unique and different. I loved everything about this book.”

Ashley, Grade 8

The Big, Bad Bullyis a bully story with a twist. It follows a young girl who struggles with being put down by a bully for many years, but then she decides to stand up to her tormentor. The twist happens when she confronts the bully, she is looking in a mirror and realizes it's herself. The book includes self-esteem building exercises as well, making it a perfect conversation starter for mental health.

Kids in grades 3-8 will get the most out of it, and it is coming out NEXT WEEK.

We all have that inner critic that whispers in our ear:

• “I’m such an idiot…”
• “I should have known…”
• “I always mess things up…”
• “I’m too (insert adjective)…..”

Do any of those things sound familiar?

The words that we say to ourselves shape us. I shared before how my daughter inspired me to write The Big, Bad Bully when I saw her saying negative things to herself in the mirror. When I saw that she needed help changing her inner dialogue I taught her the Mirror Exercise that I learned from Jack Canfield. It has made a big impact on how she talks to herself. 

The mirror exercise is pretty straightforward:

1. First, you stand in front of a mirror and say your name.
2. Then you appreciate yourself. You mention your accomplishments, successes, risks taken, disciplines kept and temptations resisted. 
3. You finish your appreciation by telling yourself “I love you,”
4. And lastly, take it in by taking a long deep breath.

Making this a habit is guaranteed to transform that inner critic into an inner coach. My daughter has been doing it for a while now, and I love seeing how it keeps her motivated and positive. 

Just this past summer, I came back from a trip and was re-connecting with the kids in the van. I was asking them what kind of snacks we should get on the way home, and one of my daughters said “Do you know what I want? I want to look at myself in the mirror and be happy with myself.” She was talking about later that evening when she would be doing the mirror exercise and going over “temptations resisted.” She wanted to make a choice that she could feel good about later. 

Whether we are aware of it or not, we have the capacity to be our best coach, or our worst critic.

I really encourage you to take the 40 day challenge and resolve to do The Mirror Exercise every day for forty days! It is amazing the difference it will make in your habits and in your self esteem. If you think 40 days is a lot, I know somebody who has been doing the mirror exercise for 2786 days (the last time I saw her).

I added The Mirror Exercise to The Big, Bad Bully because it is so important to start these things young. If you are taking the challenge or going to go over it with your kids, feel free to download and print it HERE. I find it a great reminder when it is taped to your bathroom mirror. 

If you want a LIVE tutorial of The Mirror Exercise, my co-author Jack Canfield and I are doing an online book reading that will be followed by self-esteem building exercises on October 30th at 1 pm EST. Admission is included when you purchase two copies of The Big, Bad Bully. Keep one for your family and donate the other to a school or library in your community! Help us bring awareness to kids about their thought life!

To reserve your spot in the Virtual Book Reading sign up below!

Hello!

I just got back from my two week of travels: Newark, NJ, Atlanta, GA and finally Palm Springs, CA. It was WONDERFUL to help out at Jack Canfield’s events; One Day to Greatness® and Train the Trainer®. It's really an amazing feeling to spend such focused time with such awesome people. At the end, it feels like another family.

Train the Trainer® is an intensive live course where Jack teaches people to become trainers of The Success Principles. I was in charge of a group of five individuals at Train the Trainer® who had to make a presentation at the end of the week to be critiqued.

I discovered that everybody has their own unique story to share, sometimes referred to as a “Hero” story.

It describes a time in your life where you have been down, but then are able to overcome whatever difficulties you are facing and rise above. It was inspiring to see how so many people want to make a difference and help others. I feel so connected and bonded to these individuals.

I was also overwhelmed by the response to our children’s book, The Big, Bad Bully, coming out October 29th. After spending seven full days with Jack, I realized that he is a Master at helping people make positive changes in their lives. He has been working in this field for 50 years now and truly is a self-esteem expert. I am looking forward to how this message is going to impact children. 

I am always SO inspired by the time I spend at Jack’s events. Every time I think about my children and how we need to teach them these important lessons early on. I am filled with excitement to see The Big, Bad Bully in action when it launches at the end of this month! Jack and I have been planning a virtual book reading that we are opening up to everyone to join. Be sure to sign up and join us for it on October 30th!

Hugs,

Miriam

Join us for a LIVE reading of The Big, Bad Bully on October 30th!