What are positive affirmations?

Positive affirmations are positive statements and beliefs. You can say them out loud, write them down, read them, or listen to them. They help create positive changes in your life and can shape your outlook on the world for the better. They are a simple and powerful tool for improving health and wellbeing.

 

How do positive affirmations work?

Our bodies respond to what the brain tells the body. The body responds whether it is actually happening or imagined. Give it a try. First, think back to a time when you were really scared. Walk through the situation in your mind and remember what it felt like. You may notice that your body starts to tense up and your breathing may become shallow. Conversely, think about a time when you felt immense love. Take a moment to immerse yourself in what that felt like. This time, does your body soften, and do you feel warm and happy? We can create the same positive responses in our bodies with positive affirmations. And, being in this positive feeling state attracts more positivity.  If the body does what the brain tells it, why not choose to focus on positive thoughts to create the future you want?

 

Benefits

Affirmations can change your whole outlook on life for the better. You can work with positive affirmations anywhere and anytime. You are in complete control. No matter what is happening around you, you get to choose what you think about it. If you realize that a thought is not serving you, you have the freedom to choose another thought. Perhaps one of the best benefits of positive affirmations is that they feel good. They can give you a little boost and brighten your day. Ultimately, they attract and create the positive outcome you’re focusing on.

 

How to choose your affirmations

Think about what you really want out of a situation or out of life. Phrase what you want in the present tense as if it is actually happening right now. Tune in to what your heart desires, no matter how wild or unrealistic it might seem. Big changes often result from small steps done consistently over time. Create your own affirmations or consider those written by others as a starting point.

Here are some examples of affirmations:

• I am thankful for my wonderful body, and I treat myself with kindness and loving care
• I am perfectly protected and safe at all times
• I receive all of the support I need exactly when and how I need it
• My immune system is strong and is always working to appropriately protect me without overreacting
• I have a wonderful job where I am well compensated and my talents are valued
• I love where I live, and I have all of the resources I need to thrive
• Life loves me

You can also choose to use a book of affirmations like You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. Louise is highly regarded as one of the most influential creators and teachers of positive affirmations. At HAVEN, we have a positive affirmation card deck in our office. The picture at the top of this blog shows one of the cards from our affirmation deck. Additionally, you might choose to listen to a guided visualization that contains affirmations. One of my favorite creators of guided visualization tools is Belleruth Naparstek. Visualizations and affirmations are also available on a number of apps like Insight Timer, Calm, and Headspace.

 

How to work with affirmations

Once you have selected an affirmation, the next step is to decide how you want to work with it. Here are some ideas:

• Say the affirmation silently in your head, multiple times a day
• Speak it aloud
• Sing it
• Write it down in a notebook once or multiple times a day
• Write it on a sticky note and put it in a place where you’ll see it often, like a mirror, the refrigerator, or in your car
• Set it as the wallpaper on your phone, tablet, or computer

Regardless of how you choose to use your affirmation, it’s important that you make sure to feel the feeling that accompanies the affirmation. Let’s say that your affirmation is that you are perfectly happy and healthy, or you got that new job you’ve been working toward. Take some time to imagine and envision what it feels like when it actually happens. Allowing yourself to experience that feeling state aligns your energy to that event and attracts it to you. What you focus your attention on grows.

 

What happens if negative thoughts creep in?

It’s human nature to experience negative thoughts. Try to become an observer of your thoughts and notice when you find yourself thinking a negative thought. It’s also normal to feel frustrated with yourself for thinking a negative thought. Instead, try thanking yourself for catching the negative thought. Give yourself some grace and bring your attention and thoughts back to the positive. Refocus your attention on your positive affirmation and what it feels like. That is the practice. It’s recognizing you thoughts and making the choice to return your focus to the positive each time.

 

Research on positive affirmations

There are a number of research articles on the power of positive affirmations. Here are a few:

• From the Journal of Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience: Self-affirmation activates brain systems associated with self-related processing and reward and is reinforced by future orientation
• From the American Journal of Philological Sciences: Nurturing the Mind: The Power of Positive Affirmations in Enhancing Psychological Well-being
• On PositivePsychology.com: Positive Daily Affirmations: Is There Science Behind It?
• On Mentalhealth.com: The Science Of Affirmations: The Brain’s Response To Positive Thinking

Many of these articles have a number of references to additional research studies.

 

Additional information

Want to learn more about positive affirmations and how we can help you? We’d love to hear from you. Please click this link to schedule a free 10-minute call with our senior scheduling receptionist who will be happy to answer any questions you have and advise you on the best services and practitioner to meet your unique needs.

 

Any other questions? Please reach out and email us through our website or call or text 910-622-4269.