Positive affirmations are statements that are said to yourself as a way to create changes in your life. These short phrases are often meant to replace negative self-talk, beliefs and thought patterns with something more uplifting and nurturing.
As many of you know, the inner dialogue we have with ourselves can often be very critical and negative. These negative thought patterns and beliefs are learned patterns that often develop during childhood and can work against us throughout our lives. By telling ourselves such things as I’m always making mistakes, or I’ll never lose weight, we end up affirming these beliefs into our subconscious where they manifest into our lives. In other words, the things we tell ourselves often become self-fulfilling prophecies. Positive affirmations can challenge those beliefs and create positive change in our lives.
How it works
Repeating positive affirmation on a regular basis can chip away at the resistance created by negative thoughts and beliefs. It forces you to reappraise the beliefs you perceive to be true, and allows your mind and spirit to embrace positive, uplifting change. Think of it as a way of reprogramming your mind in order to change how you view yourself and your life, and attain your goals.
In order for positive affirmations to work, there must first be desire. If you tell yourself I am going to meditate daily, but feel no desire to take the steps to do so, there is not much chance it will happen. Make sure your positive affirmation is something you truly desire, rather than something you think you should be doing. If you feel resistance when stating an affirmation, even if it’s something you desire, don’t worry. It can take a while to get past deeply ingrained resistant beliefs.
Another important factor with positive affirmations is to see yourself as working toward something. Many experts have found that if an affirmation contradicts how one truly sees themselves, there is little chance for success. So rather than saying, I am a fit and healthy person, you may try saying I am becoming a fit and healthy person. Studies have also shown that people with low self-esteem often feel worse after stating positive affirmations. Researches believe this is because the statements end up creating conflicting, contradictory thoughts which can leave the person feeling frustrated. Health activist and author Dr. Joseph Mercola, believes this happens because there needs to be an acknowledgement that a problem exists, despite the desire to change. So, for example, rather than saying I love and accept myself, one can say Even though I feel this unresolved anger towards my mother, I love and accept myself.
And of course no positive affirmation can work without action. The things you wish to change or attain will take at least some action on your part in order for them to manifest. Think of positive affirmations as a springboard that will give you a boost to accomplish what you desire.
Positive affirmations can help remove the negative beliefs that may be sabotaging your life as well as allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your inner spirit. Take a look at the following sites for some examples of positive affirmations you may wish to use in your life.
University of Metaphysical Sciences
Vital Affirmations
