The Positive Power of Affirmations

 

I am... worthy.

I am... resilient.

I am... positive.

I am... successful.

Recognize them?^ All of these "I am" statements are something called positive affirmations, which if you aren't already using them, you're in for a treat!

So whether you've been feeling a little bit down lately or are struggling with self-doubt and negative thoughts, positive affirmations are just the thing to help you out of the slump.

I've been using affirmations is a variety of ways in my meditations, word/wall arts, and even phone backgrounds. Right now, my favorite affirmation is: Every day, in every way, I am getting/becoming ______ and ______ (even if it's just one cell at a time).

Every day in every way I am becoming _

Positive affirmations are short, powerful statements that help you overcome negative thoughts and emotions. 

They can increase self-confidence, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve your overall well-being. 

In this post, we're taking a closer look at positive affirmations and giving you some sage advice and practical tips on how to incorporate them into your daily routine.

Banish negative thoughts and replace them with positive, empowering beliefs! 

I Affirm that I Affirm What I Do Not Know

The really great part about positive affirmations is how simple they are to create and use. 

Like the four statements at the start of this post, positive affirmations are like mini pep talks that you give yourself to shift your mindset and attitude, usually in the form of an "I am" statement. 

Positive affirmations are like mini pep talks.

They're short and sweet statements that help you focus on positive thoughts and emotions.

Regularly using positive affirmations works because it helps rewire your brain to be able to focus on the good stuff. 

By repeating positive affirmations regularly, you create new neural pathways in your brain that help you see things in a more positive light. It's like going to the gym for your mind! The more you do it, the easier it gets. The more you walk down a trail, the easier the path becomes over time. 

Go ahead and tailor your affirmations to resonate with you. These are some basic, but powerful ones to help you get started:

I am worthy of love and respect

I am capable of achieving my goals

I am strong and resilient

I am surrounded by positivity and abundance

It's best to repeat or remind yourself of your affirmations throughout the day, especially during moments of stress or self-doubt. 

Benefits (The Good Part)

#1. Increased self-confidence! 

When you repeat positive affirmations to yourself, you're reinforcing positive (and often times new) beliefs about yourself. 

 This can help boost your self-esteem and confidence. So, even if it feels really uncomfortable or weird, push through and tell yourself that you're amazing and watch what happens!

#2. Reduced stress and anxiety. 

By focusing on positive thoughts and emotions, you are regularly raising your energy and moving away from states of stress and anxiety into higher states of more positive emotions like love, joy, inspiration, etc. 

 It's like taking a mental vacation to a happy place!

 

#3. Improved overall well-being. 

Positive affirmations can help improve your overall mood and attitude. Because, when you focus on good stuff, it can have a rippling effect on other areas of your life. 

 For example, you might try using affirmations to build confidence at work and are surprised when that confidence shows up in your relationships too. I'm not saying it's an if-then rule, but just one of many possibilities.

 

#4. Science supports positive affirmations! 

I know in some posts we go off into the "deep end" and "pseudo sciences," but not today. Science is fully on board and studies have shown that positive affirmations can help improve mental health and well-being. So, this is a proven, quantifiable tool.

How to Use Affirmations

Before you can start using affirmations first, identify the areas of your life that you want to improve or some goal that you have. 

Right now I'm using affirmations to help me release weight.

Ask yourself,

• Are you looking to boost your self-confidence? 
• Do you want to reduce your stress levels? 
• Are you working towards a specific goal? 

Once you've answered those questions, now it's time to create your affirmations.

When creating your list of positive affirmations, be sure to use language that resonates with you. 

Remember these are your affirmations, so don't worry about sounding all mystical and esoteric, just use words that feel empowering and uplifting to you. 

And affirmations can be quite fun, so have fun with them, they're supposed to be fun.

Consistency is key when it comes to using positive affirmations. The best way to use them consistently is to incorporate them into your daily routine.

Because of your body and brain's 24 hour cycle saying affirmations in the morning and before bed are super effective times to cement positive beliefs in your subconscious.

They're also great for whenever you need a little boost of positivity. 

The more you use them, the more effective they'll become!

The more you use them, the more effective they'll become.

Lastly, here are some tips to consider:

Use the present tense (e.g. "I am" instead of "I will be." You don't want to constantly be putting your goal in the future like a carrot dangling in front of a donkey.)

Use positive language (e.g. "I am happy and fulfilled" instead of "I am not unhappy")

Visualize yourself achieving your goals as you say your affirmations. The more you can see, feel, and "experience" your goal as you say your affirmations, the more effective they will be.

For example, you can say "I am successful," but if you say it monotone, frowning, and sighing, it's probably not going to help you very much. Stand up and say it with confidence, with feeling. "I am successful!" Be excited about what you're saying and be energetic. Again, at the beginning it might feel weird and uncomfortable, but keep doing it until it becomes natural. It will eventually. 

Say them out loud. I get that it's not always possible to do this. People are sleeping, you're at work or school, but when you can it's so much more effective to speak the affirmations out loud. 

And lastly, believe in yourself and trust the process.

Common Mistakes

We've talked about how to use positive affirmations effectively, but it's important to also discuss common mistakes to avoid. Here are some things to watch out for:

First, using negative language in your affirmations. Like I said in the previous section, remember to focus on what you want to achieve, rather than what you don't want. 

Focus and energy isn't discerning, meaning that if you focus on what you don't want, well your brain is going to think that's actually what you do want. 

And using negative language can actually reinforce negative beliefs about yourself, so be sure to avoid negative language and use only positive and empowering language.

Another common mistake is using affirmations that feel unrealistic or unattainable. While it's important to dream big, it's also important to set realistic goals for yourself. Especially at the beginning when your confidence and belief is still growing. 

So choose affirmations that reflect your current reality and work towards small, achievable steps towards your larger goals.

Your affirmations aren't set in stone either, so you can always change your affirmations as you go to reflect new, bigger, and even better goals.

It's also easy to fall into the trap of focusing too much on the outcome, rather than the process. (And this is true for so much more of life than just affirmations.) 

While it's great to visualize your desired outcome, don't obsess about it, remember to focus on the journey and the steps you need to take to get there. 

The process is just as important as the end result and actually it might even be more important because it's where we spend a lot of our formative time.

Lastly, giving up too quickly is a common mistake. Remember that using positive affirmations is a practice, and it takes time and consistency to see results. But at the same time, you're stirring up old negative beliefs and the emotions attached to them, so be prepared for some degree of emotional upheaval. (Multiple times, I have been a little too enthusiastic using affirmations and caused myself to have some meltdowns... )

Don't get discouraged if you don't see changes right away. Keep using your affirmations and trust the process.

Keep these tips in mind as you continue to incorporate affirmations into your daily routine, and remember to be patient and kind to yourself along the way. You've got this!

Recap Corner

Positive affirmations can have a powerful impact on our lives, including increased self-confidence, reduced stress and anxiety, and improved overall well-being. By identifying areas of your life that you want to improve, creating a list of positive affirmations, and using them consistently, you can harness the power of positivity and transform your mindset.

We also discussed common mistakes to avoid, such as using negative language in your affirmations, focusing too much on the outcome, and giving up too quickly. By keeping these tips in mind, you can use positive affirmations effectively and see real results.

Remember to use empowering language, visualize your desired outcome, and believe in yourself. You are capable of amazing things, and positive affirmations can help you believe that too.

And don't forget to be kind to yourself along the way!

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