"I am the architect of my life.
I build its foundation and choose its contents."
The power of positive thinking changes everything: your habits, relationships, perceptions, and so much more. You create your world with your thoughts, and if you want a happy, proactive life, you’ll need a positive mindset.
One way of doing this is through affirmations or, repeated, positive self-talk. Like meditation and mindfulness, research shows how affirmations change the brain and enhance a positive outlook on life.
And really, all you’re doing is saying kind things to yourself – repeating short phrases until you fully embrace the message. In doing this, you train your brain to realize that you are capable, you are intelligent, you are beautiful, and you are worth it.
Because you are.
So, read on to find out how affirmations work, how to create them, and how to utilize them to your best benefit.
"my body is healthy, my mind is brilliant, my soul is tranquil"
How affirmations work
Affirmations are phrases that you consistently repeat to yourself intending to create 1. a specific outcome, or 2. who you want to be.
Also known as mantras, these phrases may not be entirely accurate at the time. Still, the point is to focus on the meaning and the intended result. The saying, you are what you think speaks true in that if you tell yourself that you are not good enough or a dream won’t happen, then you will inherently believe this negative self-talk.
Until you change the way you talk to yourself, this will be your belief. Affirmations improve this by replacing negative self-talk with positive, simple, repeatable words.
The Latin word, affirmare, means ‘to make steady, to strengthen.’ Through repetition, we strengthen and empower ourselves with the reassurance that we are good enough, and our dreams can become a reality. In doing this, affirmations also subdue anxiety and stress you encounter throughout the change in mindset.
Affirmations aren’t magical manifestations. They are scientifically proven to rewire our brains, much like exercise and practicing gratitude. When repeating positive words, it releases the feel-good hormones dopamine and serotonin. It activates our brains to produce more positive-oriented neurons.
So now, we have a better understanding of how positive affirmations work. Now you are ready to create them, so you can begin to feel their astonishing effects.
"creativity surges through me and leads me to new and brilliant ideas."
How to create affirmations
Affirmations have powerful effects on the mind, body, and spirit. If someone has ever told you how smart you are or that you can accomplish anything, then you know the positive emotional spark it causes.
Now take those comments and transform them into something that you repeat to yourself. It doesn’t take much, but to follow three simple guidelines:
1. keep them positive
There is no room for negativity in a positive affirmation. The point is to claim what you want, not what you suffer from, or what you don’t want. For example, an affirmation that states, “I don’t have a low paying job I hate” is riddled with negativity and self-doubt. We are speaking to the subconscious mind and the subconscious mind will look at that and see “low paying job I hate”
Instead, turn it into something entirely positive: “I am excited every day as I go to work at well paying job that I love.”
2. Write them in the present tense
As Jack Canfield mentions in his book The Success Principles, two of the most powerful words in the English language are, I am. When you’re first starting, use these words to begin your affirmations, so it always stays in the present.
For example, if you want to quit smoking, your affirmation could be something like, “I am so grateful and happy that I allow myself to breathe clean, fresh air.” Using the present tense in this way puts it out to the world and yourself that it is already in motion.
3. Supercharge them with emotion
Here is your chance to get creative and use positive, emotive words, since it cuts right to the heart. Words like happy, grateful, enjoying, joyful, lovingly are just some examples. These will help to supercharge your affirmations from, “I am supporting my family and giving them what they need” to “I am lovingly supporting my family, and they are joyfully content.”
When you feel a surge of joyful emotion from your affirmation, you will know that it’s officially supercharged. Jack Canfield has an invaluable list of positive feeling words for affirmations, here.
"others look up to me and recognize my worth. I make a difference."
How to use affirmations
You’ve created these amazing, positive affirmations that reflect who you want to be and your dreams that will become a reality. Great! But how do you utilize them?
Use these three ways to empower your affirmations:
1. write them down daily
Keep a journal specifically for affirmations, so you always have them handy. I know many people who write them on index cards; then, once they have enough, they randomly pull a card each day or week. Writing down your affirmations, especially daily, helps solidify the affirmation into your brain.
2. repeat them to yourself out loud
Verbally repeating your affirmation makes it more real. You are making your affirmation real by putting the vibrations of your voice out there for all the world to hear, even if it’s just you.
Repeat the affirmation 3-5 times, loudly, clearly, and with emotion. State them as though you are speaking your truth, as though it has happened and you have received the greatest gift.
3. read them to yourself
Read your affirmation to yourself, but with the same emotion and energy as you would if you said it out loud. Mindfully do this, as it’s easier to scan-read written words. If you have your affirmation taped to your computer screen, for example, take a moment throughout the day to not only repeat the affirmation out loud but also to read it.
final thoughts
Creating and maintaining a positive mindset isn’t always as easy as it sounds, but that’s one of the reasons I became a hypnotist. I help people become who they want to be, and one way of doing that is through practicing positive affirmations (or positive suggestions as we say in the hypnosis trade).
Use the techniques in this article to help you create and utilize affirmations, and you will be well on your way to a happier, healthier lifestyle. If you need a little help, don’t hesitate to contact me.