Affirmations

The first and most fundamental thing in achieving what you really want out of life is just simply saying it.

This is a practice that is no muss or fuss. It’s as simple as it sounds. Say what you want. Either silently or aloud. Do it anywhere or any time. Write down who you want to be. Utilize your sticky pads! Put them where you can see them regularly. Surround yourself with positive affirmations and positive results will begin to emerge. It really is that simple.

If your mind is convinced you are a great writer, or the best mother, or an ‘A’ student, your behavior will begin to support that conviction. It is easiest to attain a goal when you begin your quest with the end result already ingrained in your mind.

Affirmations work as place holders for positive, supportive thoughts. Your mind can only entertain one thought at a time. An affirmation fills that slot with a specifically targeted belief that furthers your goals.

Affirmations are portable, so they can be utilized anywhere, anytime for specific purposes. Say you have a job interview. You are sitting in the waiting room feeling confident. All of a sudden it hits you. “This is a job that could make or break my career. I really want this.” Now, the nerves start to set in. You begin to sweat. You have butterflies. Affirmations to the rescue. Simply repeat to yourself. ‘I am confident and relaxed. I am confident and relaxed.” Say it to yourself repeatedly and with meaning. ‘It is my best interview ever. It is my best interview ever.” Take a deep breath. You will notice that you suddenly regain your posture and begin to feel more comfortable and confident. Clear your mind of doubt and absolutely know you are about to ace the interview. Crisis averted.

Of course there are few suggestions to get the most from affirmations.

1. Affirmations are always made as positive statements and usually in the present tense.

Do Say: I am passing this test.

Don’t Say: I’m not flunking this test.

2. Keep affirmations short and to the point.

Attempt to affirm the following sentence. “ My speech is going great because people see me as a leader with charisma so they get my jokes and take my words with the weight of the wisdom that they truly are.

Did you understand all the nuances at first glance? As a desired outcome, it is a lot for your mind to absorb. It becomes over kill.

Keep it simple. It is more effective.

3. Affirmations work, even if your don’t believe them.

How great is that? By simply repeating the affirmation, without trying to force yourself to believe it, your conscious mind will still accept the implications. They are then transferred into the subconscious mind where they become ingrained as fact.

As an example, let’s say you are always late arriving at appointments, work, social events, everything. You decide to affirm: ‘I am always punctual.” Your mind at first will answer back, no I’m not. I’m late for everything. But ignore that and continue to affirm “I am always punctual.” With the repeated insistence of the affirmation, your mind will take it on. You’ve begun a chain reaction by changing your way of thinking. Your behavior will change accordingly. You’ll start to become more keenly aware that time is running short before a schedule appointment. You may become a better judge at the length of time a task will take so that you can better estimate and budget your time. Your emotions may start to escalate when you are in danger to being tardy. In essence, your mind begins to implement the appropriate measures that will ensure you are punctual.

Be cautious that you don’t unknowingly use affirmations to undercut your goals. Sometime when we react to negative events, we take them on by commenting on them.

I am so stupid. I am sorry, I am an awful cook. I am uncoordinated.

Everyone makes mistakes. But affirming that the mistakes are part of who you are, you can actually make them constants in your life.

Exercise: Journal Code: AFM

Start each day by looking at your calendar, evaluating your day and deciding an affirmation that will be of benefit to the events you have planned. Repeat the affirmation throughout the day. Do this each day. Write down the various affirmations you have utilized in your journal and note which have has the most impact. Also take note of the way an affirmation can affect the way you are feeling.