What are Affirmations and How Can They Help Me?

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Alright friends let’s jump into Affirmations!

Throughout this article, you might be wondering why I’m talking to you like I know you. It’s because I am assuming you are coming over from 10 Things to do to Change Your Mindset and Improve Your Life  and since we have already spent almost 2000 words together, it’s safe to say we are best friends now. If you aren’t coming over from 10 Things to do to Change Your Mindset and Improve Your Life  that’s ok! Finish reading about affirmations here and then head back to check out the other 9 things you can be doing to help your mindset!

Ok, so as I was saying, Affirmations! what are affirmations

Affirmations are such an important part of keeping that positive, growth mindset going strong. Believing in yourself, in the universe and in your own power to learn and grow, is what will help you get to where you want to be. Whether that be spiritually, physically, emotionally, monetarily… whatever it is. Change takes bravery, pushing yourself to achieve a goal takes faith in yourself. Many of us have goals that include straying from the “social norm” of working for someone else, or getting to the top of our company, etc. That takes a certain amount of risk and jumping into a risk like that takes faith in the universe. Without it, one bump in the road and you will be running back to your comfort zone.

How do affirmations help with your belief in yourself, bravery and faith?

Well, because what you repeat to yourself regularly will start to become your go-to thoughts. You will start to deep down believe what you are saying, which means your thoughts and words, beyond the affirmations, will start to match your beliefs. Those thoughts and words then push you act in a way that supports that belief.

So if every morning you are repeating “I am brave” to yourself, eventually when you have to do something scary, you will hike up your pants, push the fear aside and get to it.  Notice I didn’t say you won’t be scared.This is a whole other topic, but I want to make sure to point out that being brave has nothing to do with not being scared, and everything to do with facing your fears and doing the scary thing anyway. Just to quickly clarify.

So here is what the dictionary (more specifically, the dictionary.com) says affirmation means: what are affirmations

1. the act or an instance of affirming; state of being affirmed
2. the assertion that something exists or is true.
3. something that is affirmed; a statement or proposition that is declared to be true.
4. confirmation or ratification of the truth or validity of a prior judgment, decision, etc.
5. Law. a solemn declaration accepted instead of a statement under oath.

Which to me pretty much reads: “the thing that is being said is true.” And, “it’s been declared as such.” And declared is a pretty serious word. If you are declaring something to be true, you better believe it is true.

So that’s the first step in the process of affirmations: repeat something you actually believe. You only have to believe it a little bit, but you do have to believe it. Because you have to feel it.

For example, I am enough is a super popular affirmation. I get it. It’s easy to remember, it’s generic, and it can speak to a lot of people. It’s also kind of trash without a feeling behind it. It’s like saying I am a rockstar!  Except without the exclamation point. With no feeling. Without any feeling in it, it’s like you are simply telling me your profession, not exclaiming that you’re badass and awesome. I am enough only works if you attach it to a feeling, and many of us are not to a point where just saying it feels true.

I use the “I am enough” affirmation, but when I’m saying it, I’m thinking:

I am good enough, I am strong enough, I am smart enough. I can reach my goals because I am enough to reach my goals. I have it in me. If it’s not glaring you in the face yet, don’t worry, it will. I am empowering enough, I am motivating enough, I can do this damn thing because I am enough to do it!

What I’m not thinking:

I am enough.

I attach it to a feeling. What am I enough for? 

So how can you start using affirmations?

Find the affirmations that mean something to you. What part of your life are you focusing on? For me, I am focusing on helping others these days. My focus is this blog, writing, inspiring and helping others. So, it makes sense that my affirmation is about being empowering and motivating. If my focus for my affirmation was on feeling more positive and happy, I’m probably not so worried about if I am empowering enough for others.

A good place to start is to take the negative thoughts you notice popping up regularly throughout the day, and turning them into a positive affirmation. For instance, if you often find yourself feeling alone, a good way to rephrase that is: “The universe made me, I am a part of it and connected to it, so I am never alone” or “The universe loves me as I am, and so do I”.

You can also affirm you are going to do something. One of my favorite memes is actually a wonderful affirmation.

Telling yourself you are going to make yourself proud is an affirmation. So is telling yourself you will succeed or you will lose 25 pounds or you will run a marathon. You are declaring it to be true.

Once I have affirmations what do I do with them?

Once you know what you want to say to yourself, the next step is saying it. The most common way to do it, is to repeat your affirmation aloud to yourself in the mirror. Make sure you give yourself time to hear the words and really feel the words. None of that hurried in the morning, quick glance in the mirror, “I-am-grateful-I-am-giving”, out the door before your breath exhales. Give yourself time. Pause on the words. Look at yourself. Feel the emotions that come with the words.

You can also record yourself saying your affirmations. Play it in the shower, in the car, while getting dressed, while making dinner. Whenever you have the time, just do it daily. And again, make sure you are hearing the words and feeling the words.

If you want extra reminders and sparks of motivation through the day, write your affirmations down. Post them everywhere. Next to your computer, in your lunch bag, on your fridge, in your car.

The more you say, hear and see your affirmations, the quicker your subconscious will pick up what you are putting down, and the sooner you will feel the difference in your self-talk, mood and performance.

what are affirmations

What positive affirmations have you turned your negative thoughts into?

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