What Are Affirmations?
Affirmations are statements that help us get motivated, inspired, or attract what we want. These are positive, aspirational statements that can help overcome negative thinking and help connect to where you want to go. They are also statements where you declare that something is true or that something is the truth. They are clear and direct and certain of a thought or belief.
Do Affirmations Work?
Affirmations are how you rewire your brain. Our mind is full of thoughts, beliefs, narratives, and stories running the show. There is a particular set of ideas and beliefs that are continually ruling our world and our reality. It’s so extremely important that we consciously and intentionally become aware of the things that we’re saying to ourselves, a story that we tell ourselves, the reality we want to have, and the future we want to create. Do affirmations work? Not only do I say “yes,” but research also says “yes.” We have limiting beliefs and narratives. We’re consciously rehearsing and practicing thoughts and belief systems every day. The only way to get ourselves out of that and create new habits and actions is to create new thoughts.
What Are the Benefits of Affirmations?
Self-affirmations can help decrease health-deteriorating stress. According to research, self-affirmations have been used effectively in interventions that led people to increase their physical behavior. This may also help us to perceive otherwise threatening messages with less resistance, including interventions. They can also make us less likely to dismiss harmful health messages, responding instead with the intention to change for the better. They have been linked positively to academic achievement. Self-affirmations have also been demonstrated to lower stress and rumination. To sum it up, I see three main things from these research examples:
- They help with building habits and changing your behaviors.
- They help you to do the work and get positive results.
- They are also helpful in being able to lower stress.
When you are in a regular healthy practice of affirmations, you’re going to be less resistant and more likely to take on feedback and not ruminate on things so that you can make those changes that you want in your life.
Use Clear Affirmative Language
First, when you are writing an effective affirmation, you must use clear, positive, and affirmative language. You literally start statements with these following words:
- I am
- I will
- I have
- I know
- I believe
When you say I am ____, it makes it very, very clear. You’re not saying I think I am or I’m going to try to be. What you’re saying is I am. When you say I will, you’re not saying I’m going to try. Instead of saying “I will try to get three workouts in this week,” say “I will get three workouts in this week.” “I will turn in this paper by Friday.” “I am powerful.” “I am smart.” “I am energetic.” This week try to speak in that language. Not just when you write your affirmations on your sticky notes or in your journal. I want you to start speaking like this too. The more precise, positive, and affirmative you are, the more your life will reflect it. The more you will attract exactly what you want, the more you’ll be able to bring in exactly what you want; it’s gonna get there much faster. It’s gonna be more specific. It’s gonna be more accurate.
Focus on What You Do Want
Focus on what you do want, not what you don’t want. Rather than saying, “I don’t want drama,.” When you look at that statement, all I see there is “drama.” But instead, if you say, “I want peace,” all I see is “peace.” Whatever you focus on is going to grow. Whatever you focus on is what you’re going to attract. So if you only focus on what you don’t want, chances are you’re going to actually attract the thing that you don’t want because all you keep thinking about is what you don’t want. Whatever you think about, you’re going to attract. Whatever you think about is what you’re going to manifest and draw into your life. Rather than thinking about what you don’t want, which is probably going to just bring you more of what you don’t want, focus on what you do want to actually get more of what you do want.
How Do You Want to Feel?
What would you say if you were living in your core desired feelings? If you felt appreciated? If you felt at peace? If you felt loved, recognized, and seen? If you actually felt safe, secure, happy, inspired, and fulfilled? What would you say about your life? What would you be saying about how you live your day today? What would you be saying about how you show up in the world? What would you say if you were actually living in your core desired feelings? At the end of the day, the reason you want anything is because of how it will make you feel. The reason why you have goals, the reason why you want to make more money, the reason why you want to find a partner, the reason why you wanna become your best self ultimately is because you want to change the way you feel. You want to go after your dream job, and you want to get better pay. You want to have all of these things because that would ultimately change the way you feel. If you start with how you want to feel first, that will help you completely revamp your affirmations, how you think, how you speak to yourself, and how you talk about your life.
What would you say if you were actually living in your core desired feelings? Choose affirmations that elicit that feeling.