There is ample evidence from documented case histories throughout the world that graphotherapy really works. Earlier we learned that the physical act of smiling seems to cause elevated moods and a healthier im¬mune system. Graphotherapy works on the same principle. By a physical act a1one, you can effect psychological changes. Forcing yourself to write uphill, for instance will ac¬tually help you start to feel more "up" emo¬tionally.

Let’s say that you have a problem with fin¬ishing what you start. Maybe you keep think¬ing you won't succeed and therefore wonder why you should keep going. Maybe you fear making a sales call or find you are reluctant to make plans for the future. You can come up with all kinds of reasons and excuses to prevent yourself from taking action: it won't work; you’re not really qualified; it will cost too much; you really don't have the time.

You could take your problem to a tradi¬tional psychotherapist, who would try to help you solve it through dialogue and psychologi¬cal counseling. Or you could go to I quali¬fied graphologist who would analyze your handwriting to find the graphological traits that correspond to your problem. In this in¬stance it is likely that the graphologist would find traits such as stopping too short of the right margin and a falling baseline.

You will recall that these traits indicate putting up imaginary barriers to how far you can get in life (right-margin avoidance) and a tendency to give up before finishing (falling baseline).

The graphologist would then instruct you to think of several phrases that express your desire to change and to write these phrases, taking care to go out to the right margin and to keep your baseline from falling. He would ask you to write this assignment twice in the morning and twice in the evening every day and to try to be conscious of your handwriting whenever you take pen in hand.

After practicing graphotherapy techniques for about three months, most people report that they can write in the new, prescribed manner without consciously thinking about it. If this happened to you, you would know that your subconscious had gotten the message, not only in your handwriting but in your life as well. And you would find yourself making those dreaded sales calls without trepidation, planning to do more than you ever dreamed, and having energy to burn.

A final note, graphotherapy, because it requires only pen, paper and a couple of visits to a graphotherapist, is one of the most inexpensive and practical means of self improvement.

<><><> About Polly Cady <><><>
Polly Cady is a master dowser and founder of the National Chirography Association. She is an internationally known handwriting analyst (graphologist), motivational speaker on handwriting analysis and how to enhance your life by changing your handwriting, and has appeared on numerous television and radio shows. She uses her skills as a graphologist and dowser to help attorneys, insurance companies, law enforcement officials, businesses, school systems, as well as individuals who want to improve their lives on any level. She is a Master Dowser and a member of The Denver Dowsers Association.