Affirmations (also known as mantras) are powerful phrases or statements that reduce negative thinking and increase positive thinking. They affirm what we believe about ourselves in a positive way so we can thrive.
Affirmations can change our habits, behavior and thinking patterns and reflect our highest potential. They help us achieve goals and put words into action, so we can attain success in any area of our life. Two of my favorite affirmations for success are “I believe in myself and my abilities” and “I can do it!”
It’s important to pay attention to what we are saying to ourselves on a regular basis and have self awareness. When you really start to pay attention, you will notice how many negative or unsupportive things you think and say to yourself, which causes discouragement, frustration and shame preventing you from living a fulfilling life, achieving your goals and success. A few common phrases that many people say to themselves are, “I’m so stupid”, “I don’t deserve to be happy”, “I’m not smart enough”, “I can’t do anything right”, “I hate myself”, “I’m not good enough” and the list goes on. These are thought patterns in the brain that we default to over and over again, reflecting core beliefs about ourselves. These types of phrases can creep into every area of your life, only making you feel worse about yourself and your situation. It’s important to be your own coach or cheerleader! You spend every second of the day with yourself, root yourself on with positive self talk by creating affirmations that can change your life!
Benefits of Using Affirmations:
- Tool for stress management
- Reduce fear and anxiety
- Motivation and encouragement
- Overcome self doubt and self sabotage
- Boost confidence and self esteem
- Helps you believe in yourself
- Affirm your self worth
- Help with achieving goals
Just as we create pathways in the brain with repetitive negative self talk, we can create new pathways with repetitive positive self talk.
It’s important to create affirmations that are in alignment with your values, but sometimes we can be so attached to our core beliefs that it may take some time to really start to believe it. If you find yourself having a difficult time believing your affirmation, either give yourself some more time with it or re-word it. It’s a process of releasing old limiting beliefs and replacing them with new self-affirming beliefs. The more you practice your positive affirmations the more you will start to believe it, creating a new comfort zone about what you believe about yourself. You’re rewiring your brain!
Tips for Creating an Affirmation:
- Keep it short and simple
- Make sure it’s in alignment with your values
- Keep it in the present tense
- Replace Negative thought to Positive Affirmation
- Start with “I am” or “My” For example, “I am successful” or “My body and mind are relaxed”
Tips for Using Affirmations:
- Start your morning with them
- Boost your confidence before meetings, presentations/public speaking
- Keep practicing: What you practice, you become
- Stay consistent
- Practice repetition: can be repeated up to three to five times daily
- Say to yourself silently or out loud
- Write them in a journal
- Practice in the mirror
- Practice self awareness
Affirmations are a simple way to change your thought patterns about yourself and therefore impact your actions. When you believe in yourself, you will take the necessary actions to follow through so you can fulfill your heart’s desires. If you haven’t tried incorporating them into your life, I highly suggest you try. I offer Guided Meditations on my YouTube channel… many include positive affirmations. Check em’ out!
“Every thought we think is creating our future.” – Louise Hay
