Using Affirmations to Transform Your Life
What are affirmations?
Affirmations are declarations that we make that are either positive or negative. These declarations can be intended to change our life or they can be impulsive like when we see a horror movie and something jumps out and startles you and we tell ourselves “yikes, that was scary”. The more we use affirmations, the more our actions and life is aligned with them. The bases of affirmations is much like a ripple effect. When the wind blows against the water, causing ripples that develop into waves that later on can cause a tsunami.
How do affirmations work?
We all go through life according to our emotions and beliefs. For example, if you grow up being led to believe that life is hard and unbending than your belief system throughout life will be bleak and pessimistic.
Our beliefs are stored in our subconscious minds. So, If your finding it challenging to be in an ideal relationship or having a difficult time staying in one, it may be caused by such beliefs in your subconscious mind as “I do not deserve to be loved”. These limiting beliefs can keep us from being truly happy with our life. If we want to change how we think, we are going to have our mind on a subconscious level.
Ever heard of the phrase to “keep good company and avoid bad company”? Being a in good company enables positive thoughts and emotions that create positive actions. These good feelings and thoughts are pressed down into your subconscious mind that in return give out positive affirmations. Being around people that are pessimistic will cause negative feelings will only feed not beneficial thoughts into your subconscious, leaving you with dejected affirmations.
Changing your belief system will entail you to constantly think of positive thoughts. Here are some tips on changing your subconscious mind to benefit using affirmations to help manifest your desired outcome.
- Optimism goes a long way. Negative affirmations don’t work. Our subconscious minds can’t process negative statements. So, if you say “I am not poor”, then when that negative affirmation reaches your subconscious mind, the word “not” is ignored and it becomes “I am poor”!
- Use the present tense. Avoid the past or future tense. Affirmations like “I will be rich” or “I will live in a over water bungalow” will only forever be in the future! Your subconscious mind is very literal and will only try to bring out what you ask for it to do. Try using affirmations like “I am rich” or “I choose to be live in an over water bungalow”. Some psychologists believe that the term “choose” is far more beneficial as then, because being rich than becomes a choice.
- Repetition is very important when using affirmations. Using affirmations several times a day every day is the most effective way. If you only do it one or two times a day or several times a day but only for a few days, than you’re not going to get the desired results you want. Consistently using repetition with affirmations is vital if your trying to make it into a reality.
- Affirmations can be either be a thought, spoken out loud or written down. Repeat them often throughout the day. Try to repeat them out loud 10 times in the morning and 10 times at night. Also try to write them down several times a day and at night right before you go to bed. Writing affirmations down is an efficient way of impressing those positive thoughts into your subconscious mind. Napoleon Hill said that the card method in his “Think and Grow Rich book” is very effective. Have a picture of what you want or a written affirmation on an index card and keep it in your pocket. Throughout the day, take it out and look at it or read it. Try to do this several times a day.
- Another very effective method is the Mirror Technique. One of the best ways to connect with your subconscious mind is to stand in front of the mirror and look right into your eyes. Repeat your affirmations forcefully. Do this everyday, whenever you see your reflection, at home or out and about, make sure you say it with all the passion you have. This technique works and is a very powerful technique to use.
When using affirmations, you can get the desired results when combining one or more of these methods. Changing your mind’s habitual thought process is not going to happen over night. You can achieve quick results with consistent practice and visualization.