Have you tried to build confidence by using affirmations?
Do you suffer from low self-esteem? When something negative happens in your life, do you beat yourself up about it again and again?
Focusing on phrases such as: “That was stupid,” “I am so fat,” “No one loves me,” and many more other negative statements can easily zap the happiness right out of your life.
Luckily, this doesn’t have to be permanent. Positive affirmations can turn your negativity around. Affirmations are simply statements or phrases, which focus on the positive rather than the negative.
These mantras can actually reprogram your subconscious thinking and bring you a plethora of good benefits that you’ll enjoy for years to come!
Here are some easy ways to incorporate positive affirmations into your life:
1. Affirmations should always be in the present tense. Begin your statements with “I can” “I have” or “I am,” instead of a phrase like “I will” or “I may.”
- Examples of this would be “I have a beautiful body” and “I am so intelligent,” instead of “I will never be so stupid again.”
- Choose statements that focus on the positive attributes you want to encourage, saying them as if you already exhibit that behavior.
2. Address yourself by name when expressing your affirmations. Believe it or not, this does make a big difference. When you say: “I, Jane Doe, am a beautiful person both inside and out,” it makes your affirmation more powerful because you hear the lovely sound of your own name!
- Using your name in the affirmations allows your subconscious to process the words even quicker.
3. Focus on one or two affirmations to start with. Although you possess many positive attributes, it’s best to focus only on one or two when you’re first starting out. If you start with twenty positive affirmations, your subconscious may be overwhelmed or dismiss the deeper meaning.
- For example, if you meet someone who goes on and on about how great and beautiful you are, what’s your reaction? Usually after the second or third compliment, you tend to wonder if this person is actually being sincere! The same principal applies to practicing too many affirmations at once.
- Focus on one or two, and when they’re firmly planted into your subconscious, you can move on to more.
4. Practice your affirmations as often as possible. Our subconscious mind is more open to suggestions when we first open our eyes in the morning and then again when we’re ready to fall asleep at night.
- The more often you recite your affirmations, the faster you’ll experience lasting changes.
5. Don’t worry if you’re having trouble writing your affirmations. There are many books and self-improvement websites that include hundreds of good, daily affirmations. You can then pick out one or two that you’d like to focus on and get started.
- Don’t let something as insignificant as not being able to compose a positive mantra hold you back from making changes and incorporating happiness into your life!
Low self-esteem is something that holds us back from living the life we deserve. You can rebuild your confidence and self-esteem with daily affirmations and experience the joy of life you’ve been missing. Try it and you’ll love it!
Great ideas! When you her your own first name it helps to wake up your souls dream and plans for this life time!
Thanks MarVeena – that’s very true… getting in touch with the core essence of you is important for success
Such a great post, Moira! Thanks for sharing. We all need a little lift once in a while. Bless you.
Thanks Alexandra I appreciate you!
I love affirmations. I know the difference they have made to my life. I’m a positive person now and rarely hear that negative voice. I need to get a new CD player so I can listen to them while I sleep.
Yes – listening to them while you sleep Kathy is a wonderful way of creating new positive patterns for yourself!
Affirmations are great for bringing us back into the sunshine. I usually do my affirmations at night and allow them to sink into my subconscious mind. The next morning, during my prayers I ask that I am able to emulate that affirmation in my activities during the day. Seems to give me the energy boost that I need. Thanks for sharing, Moira.
That’s a wonderful way of using affirmations Vatsala – I agree that affirmations often give us that wee boost that we need to take the next step.
You are so right. I have listed all the encouraging & promise verses that speak to me in my bible and when I need it, I just sit and go over them all… then the peace that transcends all human understanding falls on me – and I go about happily though my day. I love my affirmations! Great post. ๐
Thanks Norma – I agree that having them written as well as speaking them out really ramps up the effect of affirmations.
Good, practical, and useful. Thank you!
My pleasure Leslie ๐
Great article, Moira. Very inspiring! I agree. Making a written list of encouraging promises and verses do help. Counting our blessings… Thank you for sharing this!
Thanks Robin! Yes – putting things in writing makes it more real and tangible doesn’t it!
Great article, Moira. Very inspiring! I agree. Making a written list of encouraging promises and verses do help. Counting our blessings… Thank you for sharing this!
What a great post! I am a big believer in and user if affirmations. I have never worded them using my name though. Interesting. I will begin doing that today. Thanks!
Thanks Martha! I look forward to hearing of your success with that ๐
I have started putting together time management affirmations for people and I love the idea of personalising them
Affirmations for time management is a great idea Mike – adding the extra oomph that can come with the personalizing will help people stretch more!
Interesting post! Affirmations indeed give inspiration as well. What affirmation inspires you the most?
Thanks Lorii – it’s true that affirmations provide us with inspiration! My favorite affirmation is: Each and every day I am better in every way!