Positive Affirmations: Too Good to Be True? (Part 1)
Affirmations are a self-help strategy used to promote self-confidence and belief in your own abilities.
You’ve probably affirmed yourself without even realizing it by telling yourself things like:
- “All I can do is my best.”
- “I’ve got what it takes.”
- “I believe in my ability to succeed.”
These simple statements help shift your focus away from perceived failures or inadequacies and direct your focus toward your strengths — those you already have and those you want to develop.
Affirmations generally work as a tool for shifting your mindset and achieving your goals, but they’re not a magic bullet for instant success or healing.
Neuroplasticity, or your brain’s ability to change and adapt to different circumstances throughout your life, offers a clue to help understand not only what makes affirmations work, but how to make them more effective.
Using affirmations may help you feel more relaxed before your interview, and knowing you’re fully prepared can also help you avoid self-sabotaging thoughts or behaviors potentially interfering with your success.
Repeating an affirmation can help boost your motivation and confidence, but you still have to take some action yourself. Try thinking of affirmations as a step toward change, not the change itself.
Consider that nosy co-worker who always asks questions about your personal life. You don’t want to say anything to offend, but you also have no intention of answering their questions.
An affirmation like “I can remain calm even when I feel annoyed” might guide you to a habit of deep breathing or grounding exercises when you start to feel your blood boil.
These tactics, combined with your affirmations, help you get through the stressful moment until you can politely make an escape.
The affirmation didn’t make the change, you did. But it did offer a starting point.
Set them in the present
While affirmations can seem similar to goals, they don’t work in quite the same way.
Remember neuroplasticity? You’re using affirmations to help change long-standing patterns and beliefs. A good way to bring this change about is to act as if you’ve already succeeded.
A goal remains something you have to work toward. An affirmation, on the other hand, strengthens your confidence by reminding you of what you can do right now.
Avoid stock affirmations
It’s perfectly fine to use an affirmation you read somewhere that really stuck with you, but creating an affirmation specifically tailored to your goals may work best.
You might construct an affirmation along the lines of:
- “I have wonderful co-workers and a loving family. My work satisfies me, and I know I’m making a difference.”
This statement reminds you of the things a large paycheck alone can’t provide.
Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/do-affirmations-work
Have you ever tried positive affirmations and how did they work for you?
#Affirmations #Positivity #RelaxationTechniques
@calmDew1576
Cannot wait to Part 2 😮, thank you for sharing this!
@calmDew1576
This is so true.
I have been practicing positive affirmations since last week. I know it will take time but it's making me feel good about myself already.
