Affirmations are positive statements in the present tense, using “I,” that are designed to get you thinking positively.

When you say them repeatedly, you start to eradicate some of the negative self-talk, which is keeping you limited and far from reaching your true potential.

Louise Hay was the person who made affirmations, also known as positive self-talk, famous with her book “You Can Heal Your Life.” I love this book! It radically changed my life and helped me see the possibility of my life. Here’s the link to her book. Check it out: https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Heal-Your-Life/dp/0937611018/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512878106&sr=8-1&keywords=you+can+heal+your+life

She believed that all disease is rooted in the mind and in the beliefs and thoughts that we entertain within the mind. Hay was able to cure her own cancer through the power of positive affirmations alongside detoxifying the body and receiving complementary healing. Louise Hay states that all disease comes from a state of unforgiveness. Now I know that might seem really out there if you have never done any energy work or worked with an energy medicine practitioner before. But I assure you that breaking down negative thoughts can only benefit your health.

As Louise Hay says, “Whatever you believe becomes true for you.” Our beliefs are just “thought patterns, and thought patterns can be changed,” she says. According to Hay, (as well as a number of yogic wisdom practitioners), whatever we give out verbally or mentally comes back to us in like form. Thoughts are made of energy. The body cannot tell towards whom a thought is directed.

Therefore, if we think a hateful thought about somebody else, the body only knows that a thought of hate is being experienced. This negative emotion is generated inside the body, even though the target of the thought is outside of the body. The body doesn’t differentiate between “Out there,” and “In here.”

Therefore, if we want loving relationships, we must think and act in loving ways.

If we wish for good health, we need to think thoughts of health. If we long for a joyful life, we need to think thoughts of joy.

How to Use Affirmations Effectively

Have you heard of affirmations, wanted to use them, but get confused on how you actually create an affirmation and use it to your advantage?

Affirmations can be a powerful tool to enhance your thinking and results. It might seem silly to repeat statements that you view as essentially untrue, but give it a try for a month and measure the results for yourself.

It can take time to see the benefits. A few days isn’t enough. Give yourself a full month.

Create a new life and way of thinking through the power of affirmations:

1. Determine your negative beliefs. The best way to create positive affirmations that work for you is to determine where your current thinking is holding you back. Spend a day and focus on your self-talk. Make a note of all the negative thoughts you think throughout the day. Write them down.
2. Create your affirmations based on your negative beliefs. Affirmations should be stated in the present and in a positive manner. For example:
   • “I don’t have any friends” becomes “I make friends quickly and easily.”
   • “I can’t get healthy” becomes “I find it easy to eat well, exercise, and lose weight.”
   • Spend the time to create affirmations that address all of your negative thoughts.
3. Record your affirmations so you can listen to them. You’ll want to be able to listen to your affirmations in the car, at home, or on the go. Record them into your cell phone or iPod-type device. Whatever works for you.
4. Have a written record of your affirmations, too. Keep a copy with you and post other copies where you’ll see them: at work, in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and your locker at the gym. Choose places that make sense for your lifestyle.
5. Never pass up the opportunity to listen to or read your affirmations. Stuck in line at the store? Pull out your iPod or list of affirmations and listen or read. Use your spare time to recite your affirmations to yourself.
6. The time right before falling asleep and right after waking up are most important. Your brain is more receptive to suggestion during these times. Use them to your advantage. It only takes a few minutes. You might even find that you sleep better.
7. Notice your successes. The changes you experience will be very subtle. You probably won’t even recognize them unless you’re looking for them. Once a week, sit down and think about your life. Ask yourself how things are improving. What positive changes are you seeing?
8. Keep a list of your successes. Keep a journal so you don’t forget about the progress you’ve made. You’re already good at keeping track of your failures, so do the same for your successes. Review your successes to keep them fresh in your mind. Success leads to more success, so keep track!
9. Repeat the entire process as needed. Over time, you’ll develop new, negative self-talk. Use it to your advantage. Add new affirmations to your list and use them. Your self-talk will become less negative as you become more aware of it. This is a process you can use throughout your lifetime.

If you’ve never given affirmations a try, you’re in for a surprise. As simple as affirmations can be, it can be challenging to get started. Avoid allowing your resistance to stop you.

Forge ahead and give affirmations your best effort, even if for just a month. They have become a part of my morning ritual and truly have brought awareness to my self talk and positivity in to my life! I want the same for you.

Hit reply and let me know how it goes for you!