Affirmations are positive statements that you deliberately repeat to yourself until it takes root in the mind.
Affirmations
- boost self-esteem
- overcome negative self-talk and scripts
-
help you to
achieve your goals.
Affirmations
should be
·
Personal
·
Positive
·
In
the present tense
·
Kept
simple and brief
The most famous of all affirmations is probably Emile Coue’s
‘Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better”
It
satisfies all the above rules.
Why not try putting affirmations on index cards or stickers in places you are likely to see them.
For example, put affirmations in your wallet, fridge and in books you look at regularly.
You can even try using affirmations as passwords!
Links
Search with Google for affirmations and you’ll find some gems – plus a lot of junk.
Here are some gems:-
Coping.org Tools for Coping with Life's Stressors has a very good page on affirmations.
The author’s
recommend the following
“Affirmation of the day” exercise
Write a single positive affirmation on thirty 3 x 5 index cards.
Take one card a day for each day of the month.
This card is your affirmation for the day.
When
you get to the last card start again.
Emile Coue’s Self Mastery Through Conscious Autosuggestion is available free on-line.
Coue
concludes “We
possess within us a force of
incalculable power, which, when we handle it unconsciously is often
prejudicial
to us. If on the contrary we direct it in a conscious and wise manner,
it gives
us the mastery of ourselves and allows us not only to escape and to aid
others
to escape, from physical and mental ills, but also to live in relative
happiness, whatever the conditions in which we may find
ourselves.”
Affirmations
for Writers by Nina Lee Braden gives a rational for using
affirmations and
examples of affirmations useful for writers. “Through the use
of affirmations,
we can learn to think positively and to develop a healthier self-image
and a
better attitude towards life” writes Braden. Her affirmations
include
I
make writing a
priority.
I use
my time wisely and
efficiently
I
find a congenial place
to write.
Hospice
Net
provides affirmations designed for those facing death, but which also
look
pretty appropriate for everyone, including
I cherish each moment of my
life.
I am not
hiding my love from people.
I will
become open to new pathways and new relationships.
I am
learning.
http://www.12steps.org/ say that “As
crazy as it [the idea of
affirmations] sounds, your brain hears and believes those negative
messages and
limits your abilities. We've learned to counteract those years of
negative with
positive affirmations. Their list at http://www.12steps.org/Brochure/menubord/AFFIRM.htm
includes
I can
handle criticism
with ease.
I can
make things
happen.
Today,
I will rejoice in
my abilities
I acknowledge my needs.
Visualization
and
Affirmations for Peak Performance
provides some useful
guidelines for creating visualisations and affirmations including:-
Phrase affirmations in the most positive way possible.
“Avoid
the use of words like “no”,
“don’t”,
and “not” in your affirmations. If you are a
parent, teacher, administrator or
leader of any type, tell people what you want them to do.
Don’t tell them
what you don’t want them to do.”
Use
as many senses as possible in
affirmations and visualizations.
Make affirmations and visualizations emotional.
Imagine
what it will feel. Visualize
yourself experiencing these emotions.
Mohammad
Latiff
criticises traditional affirmations as being too unrealistic, and has
his own
rules – including making affirmations as specific and close
to the truth as
possible.
Carolyn
Leighton’s
page describes how life-coaching helped her realise the power
of affirmations
for developing her career. She
suggests
visualising your life one year from now in various categories (e.g.
career,
love) and affirming what you have already achieved. She compares them
favourably to new year resolutions.
Back
to Tim
LeBon’s Philosophy, Counselling and Personal Development pages