Positive Affirmations

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In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.

Mother Teresa / nun, humanitarian, spiritual leader / 1910–1997

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Given the pace of modern living combined with the drama of everyday life, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s important, such as your goals, those you care about, or the wonders or opportunities that exist around you, for example. Affirmations can help you retain a focus on what you value. If you set aside a few minutes to create a list of positive affirmations and review it regularly, then you will be able to recall them at will when stressed, distracted, or bored, for example. That will help you retain focus, improve your awareness, and hone your intent such that you achieve what you want. Your goals serve as your strategic long-term intentions, and you can recite aspects of those goals as affirmations when desired. You can also maintain a list of intentions that may not be a part of your goals yet include ways in which you want to behave or things you want to achieve. This is positive self-talk as outlined in your innate ability of relaxation, and it will increase your self-confidence.

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To hone this ability, first create a list of positive affirmations that aren’t included in your goals already. An effective affirmation would be a positive statement that’s framed in the present tense. When you’re sick, for example, a helpful affirmation to repeat to yourself regularly would be “My body is strong, and I am healing rapidly.” In addition to saying or thinking such words, also adjust your posture, relax your body, and breathe deeply and slowly. Combining encouraging physical actions with your affirmations will build your confidence and boost the effect. Another example of a positive affirmation is “When faced with a difficult person, I strive for understanding and leverage my abilities of vision, elasticity, and unselfishness.” A one-page list that you update when necessary would serve as a useful tool to strengthen your resolve yet not take too much time to review. Read and modify your list regularly each week until you can recall it at will, and use these affirmations throughout the day to retain your focus, overcome challenges, and boost your motivation.

 

Another useful trick is to hold an artifact when you review your affirmations, and then carry that with you throughout the day to have it serve as a reminder. This is the same idea as tying a string around your finger to remind yourself of something important. That’s certainly an option as well, but this approach can be extended to a unique object, such as a piece of jewelry you don’t wear every day, a trinket, or a stone, for example. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it has a positive connotation, and it’s something you’ll notice throughout the day. For example, you might carry a small crystal to remind you to see clearly and to recall specific affirmations or abilities you possess. If you’re faced with a new challenge or want something for which you don’t have an affirmation prepared already, then simply create it on the fly. If it’s useful and can be applied again, then add it to your list. Any affirmation should amount to positive self-talk and include the outcome you desire.

 

Remain mindful of your thoughts from moment to moment. We all talk to ourselves mentally, and often our minds repeat thought patterns frequently. When you feel anxious or you become aware of negative thinking within, use affirmations to change your thoughts as well as any words you speak. If you persist, then your mind-set will change for the better, and your feelings will follow. This will also have a positive effect on those around you, and given the law of attraction, it will influence what manifests in your life.

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