Children's author from South Africa teaches positive thinking through books
Our thoughts dictate how we feel, and if we want to feel good, we need to think positive. At least that’s what Larne Neuland, an author from South Africa who now lives in Madison, believes.
Her children’s book, “Let’s take a Peek at our Thoughts,” teaches children just that. It’s important to Neuland that people learn to see the positive parts of life, something she herself learned the hard way years ago.
“When I was younger, my whole intent in life was to have a happy marriage. That was my goal,” Neuland said, adding her marriage ended badly and negatively affected her whole life. “Afterward, it got to a point where I felt I really cannot go on anymore.”
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One day, a woman came into the surgery center where Neuland worked and told her she should try and reevaluate her thoughts.
At first, Neuland was apprehensive of what the woman was telling her, but then she began to take it to heart.
“I said to myself, ‘Well what am I thinking?’ And every single thought that was coming into my mind was miserable, fearful or with no hope at all,” Neuland said. “I decided to make a change by only choosing to hold on to the things that are positive.”
She decided to color-code the thoughts pink and gray for positive and negative. Anything that was negative she would acknowledge, then “throw away," and replace with a positive thought.
It took her a while to start seeing those little positives in life and form the new habit of selective thinking, but over time, and with a lot of work, Neuland saw her life through a different lens.
“I started to feel like a different person," Neuland said. "I began to notice that the sky was beautiful again, the trees were wonderful. Everything around me began to glow. I was amazed to see how this change of thinking was changing the way I felt about the world.”
When she realized her method worked, she began giving presentations around South Africa on thinking positive, and soon people started asking if she had a book.
Neuland published an adult book called “How to Win when Life is Unfair,” in 1993 while continuing to travel the country, selling books and speaking about how to change negativity in life. Her book got her featured in magazines and on TV stations.
Neuland would give out pink pom-poms to help people remember to think positive as part of her presentations, and the people always enjoyed it, she said.
Eventually, Neuland wondered why this way of thinking wasn’t taught when she was in grade school. So after doing research and talking with teachers and psychologists, she wrote her children's book.
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“The book is meant to be a nice tool to help teach children how to lay a positive mindset at that age when they’re learning the fundamentals for forming as a person,” Neuland said.
Instead of simply pink or gray thoughts, the children’s book features “loves” and “grouches.” It also comes with soft toy loves and grouches for the children to have and play with.
Bringing her books and message to America had always been a dream of Neuland's, one that came true when she moved to Madison, South Dakota.
Since moving, Neuland has created video courses online for kids to follow along and learn about their thoughts. The lessons included games and a little song about the loves and grouches.
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And although her books are a few decades old now, Neuland says they still have a positive impact on her life, and on the lives of others.
“One mom told me she bought my book when her little girl was 5, and now she was 13. She said she keeps her little love and grouch toys on a dressing table. And when she has a problem, she goes up to her room, closes the door, and when she comes back, she’s happy,” Neuland said.
Neuland recently wrote a new edition of her books, which can be pre-ordered for January. She is also working on an audiobook and setting up more talks and presentations around the area.
“This is something I feel passionately about. For me, it’s not about how many people read my books, but it’s about helping those who need the message," Neuland said.
More information about her books can be found on her website.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South African author uses books to teach children about positivity
