If you want to bring positive changes into your life (and mind) then affirmations can help you to create those changes that you’re looking for.
Our thoughts are powerful and the things we tell ourselves are more important than you may realize. Our thoughts not only shape our self-image, but they truly shape our entire life.
What type of things do your thoughts tell you? Does it tell you that you aren’t good enough, that you weren’t meant to live the life you’ve always wanted, or maybe just that you aren’t as capable as everyone around you?
It’s not real, because what they aren’t saying is it’s your belief in your thoughts that makes them true. And it’s time to change them!
How would you like to be able to change the negative thoughts above to something like, “I can achieve anything that I’d like” or, “I have no limitations on my abilities” or even, “I believe in myself fully”? Imagine who you’d become and the sort of life that you could live. Hello, confidence, fulfillment, happiness, and goodbye to that nagging disbelieving liar you’ve been listening to for far too long.
If you’re familiar with neuroplasticity, then you know what I’m talking about. But in case you’re not to simplify the concept, our brains may seem fixed to function the way they always have, telling us negative things about ourselves. But they’re not, they’re adaptable, trainable, and can be rewritten.
It’s like a snowball you’re rolling down a hill, it starts as a handful of positive thoughts and as it rolls you begin to see all the wonderful things about yourself and your abilities, things you never acknowledged before. It rolls further and you find yourself wanting to do the things that have always scared you, things like pursuing your dreams (I know, gasp, who does that). And it rolls even further, and you find yourself achieving things that at one time you didn’t even believe were possible.
And it all starts with one simple affirmation.
We all start somewhere, and if you’re tired of feeling small or less than the person you know you were meant to be, then you should start with daily affirmations. Don’t worry, it’s easy and I’ll tell you how. If I can do it, so can you.
What Are Positive Affirmations?
They’re positive statements about yourself and/or your life that you repeat to yourself to create positive changes. You’re giving your brain pep talks daily until you not only believe it but also feel it and embody it.
You may not believe it at first, you may even feel silly when you start (I did) but KEEP GOING. After a while, you’ll begin to feel differently. You’ll begin to see how powerful they are. You’ll begin to make healthy changes in your life because you’ll know that you deserve it.
What Are Some of The Ways That Positive Affirmations Can Change My Life?
Practicing daily affirmations will essentially train your mind to not only be more positive, but to slowly eliminate lurking doubts in yourself and your abilities. You’ll be creating a mindset built for growth and success. It might seem silly, but it really does work.
I can’t tell you all the amazing changes practicing affirmations can bring into your life, because we’re all different. But I can tell you a few of the things it’s brought into mine:
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- Positive thinking and optimism
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- Increased self-confidence
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- Self-empowerment
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- Increased motivation and success
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- Open-mindedness
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- More creativity
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- Lessening self-limiting beliefs
And my personal favorite …
Braveness and boldness in pursuing EVERYTHING that I want, and I love it
There are many more things that affirmations have done for me, that’s just a few of them.
What Methods Can You Use to Practice Affirmations?
There are many ways that you can practice affirmations, I’ve just included a few. If you come up with another that isn’t on the following list and it works best for you, then do it that way. We’re all different and our personal growth journeys will be too.
I use a combination of number one and number two on the list below. Try out a few of the methods that appeal to you below and see which one fits best.
1. Write Them Down
This method is pretty much self-explanatory. Grab a piece of paper, a notebook, or whatever tablet that you have handy and write them down. I don’t recommend typing affirmations. I think the physical act of writing them makes them more meaningful and powerful. You can write the same affirmation as many times as you’d like or deem necessary for the day while focusing on the words, feelings, and thoughts of it as you do.
2. Verbal Affirmations
Verbally repeat your chosen affirmations as many times as you need to until you feel satisfied with the act. Focus on the words and the positive feelings associated with your desired outcome. Some people prefer to do this in front of a mirror, although I should warn you, the first time I did this I cried like a baby after. Although they were tears of joy (I think), it was a very intense experience.
3. While Meditating
This one may work best if you have just one or two affirmations that you’d like to deeply focus on. Just get comfy and into that focused and present mindset and repeat your affirmation, once again trying to feel it and your words (or inner monologue).
4. Visualization
While I recommend visualization while manifesting no matter which method you choose from this list, some people are more visual learners and thinkers. So maybe rather than speak or write your affirmations you’d prefer to visualize what you or your life will be like when they’re realized.
Just make sure you focused on it, on the feeling you’ll have, on the way it will look, and on any other aspect you can think of
Just stay focused while you practice your affirmations. You’re not just writing empty words. You’re shaping your mindset to better serve you and you’re changing your entire life in the process. You must do your best to picture it, feel it, and become it as you do.
3 Simple Steps to Writing Affirmations
1. Your first step is to identify the areas of your life or yourself in which you’d like to see growth and improved positivity. You can make a to-do list of sorts. Make a list of the things about yourself and your life that you’d like to change for the better. This is not a bash-yourself session (if you’re here you’ve probably done enough of that), so if you begin to feel overwhelmed pick one area to start with and focus on that first.
Would you like to be more confident? Or maybe You’d like to see more growth and success in your career? There aren’t any wrong answers here, it’s your life and we’re all different.
2. Your second step would be to look at each item on your list and think of at least one affirmation that will help you build the mindset to achieve it.
If your list has “be more confident” on it, you may write an affirmation like “I am beautiful, intelligent, and strong” or “I am capable, confident, and I trust myself fully”. Something that makes you feel more confident as you speak or write it.
If you want more success in your career, you might use an affirmation like “I can achieve anything I’d like because I am determined, strong, and will continue learning and growing every day” or maybe something simpler like “I am successful because I deserve it”.
I personally like a more complex and personalized affirmation, but you’ll develop your own preference.
3. Once you have your affirmations developed choose your desired method for practicing them. I like writing them down multiple times and then speaking them aloud several times as well. Sometimes I’ll even write one single affirmation on an entire page while speaking it aloud as I write, especially if it’s something I’m deeply struggling with.
A Few Rules for Writing Your Affirmations
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- Affirmations are written in the present tense.
Ex. I am, I will, I do, etc.
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- Affirmations should be written from a positive perspective not a negative one.
You want to state what you want and NOT what you don’t want.
Ex. You should write “I am strong” NOT “I am not weak” ❌
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- Your affirmations should be clear and be phrased so that there is no questioning your intent or meaning behind them.
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- Make them unique and meaningful to you, this is your mindset and essentially your life they’ll be guiding.
They’re important, treat them that way.
When Should I Practice Affirmations?
There is no correct answer to this question, what’s important is that you do it consistently and daily. Some people prefer morning affirmations, while others prefer to do it before bed. I think I’m an odd one because I began doing it while I was at work, at a job I wasn’t fond of.
It was my escape and my motivation to see them through. And it worked. There were also some affirmations that I would call upon in particularly low moments, and they always helped.
If you fear that you’ll struggle to commit to the process, then set an alarm on your phone. Choose a time when you usually have availability and name the alarm something like “It’s time to change your life”, or some other motivating and cheesy name. You’ll find what works best for you.
Just Start Today, You’re Worth It
Here’s the bottom line with beginning practicing affirmations, it’s a process that can be deeply rewarding and successful. You will probably feel silly at first, I did too, but I’m glad I kept going.
The important thing is that you recognize that you CAN change the way you think and that you DO deserve the life and version of yourself that you want. It’s achievable, you just have to believe in yourself, and affirmations will help you to do that.
Stay consistent though, that is a must. If you do, I can just about promise that you will see improvements in your thought process, mindset, and your life beginning at the very least a few weeks after beginning. Do this every day and your future self will thank you.
If you knew the broken mess I was a year ago compared to who I’m becoming now, you’d grab a pen and paper immediately. It’s funny, I have friends who tell me that I inspire them now, and it feels amazing. I’m still a work in progress and always will be in some ways. But believe me when I tell you that this practice started an amazing journey for me, and I just want to help others discover it because it’s a beautiful ride you’re about to go on.
Just start, please… today. Right now. You’ve got this.
