Affirmations are very powerful statements that are used to bring about positive change. They're a New Age concept but there's no reason why they shouldn't work for everyone. An example of an affirmation might be;
I am the power in my world, the author of my life, the creator of my own destiny.
They differ from goals in that goals constitute a practical plan involving deadlines, actions and an overall concept. They differ from resolutions as resolutions are a personal commitment, a vow to oneself to change, improve, do less or more of some things. Resolutions are promises that reflect a desire but affirmations express that a new reality already exists although it has not yet manifested in the physical sense. They require a certain frame of mind for success and at the same time, they change your mind through changing your thoughts and beliefs.
Before we look at how to use affirmations to effect positive change in your life, let's understand the role of conditioning and the mind's power. Right from when we first come into the world and start to operate as part of a family and wider society, we absorb words, attitudes, ideas, thoughts, feelings and energies from all around us. It's sad to say, but many of these will be negative as we live in a fear-based society. Many of our well-worn adages are created from a fear of lack and loss, such as; "Money doesn't grow on trees," or "Waste not, want not."
I'm not saying these proverbs aren't true, but they engender negative ideas which form our sense of reality. This early conditioning stays with us all through our lives and just think about how many social ills can be traced back to these beliefs - racism, sexism, ageism, bigotry of all kinds, discrimination, limitation thinking, all kinds of fear, addictions, self-hatred, hatred, violence, crime and of course, war. Now try to imagine a world in which positive affirmations form the basis for our belief systems and think how different things would be.
Okay, we can't cure the world's problems, but we can do something about our own individual lives and hopefully, influence others positively in the process. What I'm suggesting is that if we can learn negative thoughts in childhood, through the attitudes of our parents, teachers, friends and everyone around us, we can just as easily learn positive ideas. We can use positive affirmations to wipe out the old negative ideas, replacing them with new fresh ones of our own choosing.
For an affirmation to be effective, you need the following conditions:
- Use the 1st person singular "I" when saying them.
- Only use the present tense.
- They must be said with conviction and repeated often.
- They must be specific.
- Write your own if possible and keep to one area at a time.
- Phrase them simply.
Here's an example of how you might put these rules into effect. Let's say you want more money in your life; it's no good saying the words, "more money would be good," as that just constitutes a wish. For it to be an affirmation and for it to work, you need to use "I", then put it definitely in the present and say how much you want but phrasing it as if you already have it. So it would be; "I have $50 more a week in my pay packet," or "I have $2000 in my savings account." It's no use just saying, for instance, "I have more money," as you might then trip over 5c which would fulfill your affirmation!
You might have to repeat your affirmation like a mantra for months or even years, depending on how much pre-conditioning you have to break down first. Others might change your life overnight. Both have happened to me. With some affirmations, I have felt like giving up many times because there just didn't seem to be any progress and with others, I have seen immediate results. This also tells you a lot about which ones are your most entrenched beliefs.
You must suspend your cynicism, impatience and attachment to outcomes if you are to work successfully with affirmations. You might feel silly at first, saying, "I am a wealthy person," when you know quite definitely that you are not! But by saying this statement over and over, you are changing your thoughts in this area of your life and the reality of your life will also begin to change.
Pick the issue you want to work on most urgently then write an affirmation of your own that suits the need then keep saying it constantly, in the shower, in the car, as you're cooking, all the time. Out loud is best but when not possible, say it in your mind. Affirmations don't have to be in the form of words. You can affirm in mind-pictures which is more like creative visualization, and that works very well for some people. You can also live your life as one extended affirmation, by actions and thoughts in general which enhance your blossoming beliefs.
Affirmations require faith and self-love but most of all, deservability. Without these components, you cannot change your life for the better.
Here are some areas of life that can improve with the help of affirmations and I've written you an example for each.
- Health: "I have a body that works perfectly."
- Job: "My job is enjoyable and pays me well."
- Money: "I have all the money I need every day."
- Relationships: "All my relationships are positive and joyful."
- Future: "My future is bright and safe."
- Life: "My life is continual bliss."
These are generic ones that you can use to make a start but if you have a specific issue such as a particular relationship that needs healing, write an affirmation for it like; "My daughter and I get along beautifully together," or "My boss values my work." I started working with affirmations in 1987 and I can only say that they have changed my life for the better, many times over. My daily routine now includes about 40 affirmations that I say in the morning, during the day and last thing at night. The more you affirm that your life is good, the more it will be. You can't take my word for it; you have to try it for yourself and I guarantee that if you say affirmations with a trusting heart, you cannot fail to see positive results.
Go for it! You have nothing to lose but your obsolete and limited beliefs. Open your mind and your life will free up and then, anything is possible! To me, it's about taking responsibility for your own life and making choices about the way you want that life to be.
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