“An affirmation opens the door. It’s a beginning point on the path to change.” – Louise L. Hay
Affirmations may seem like new-age mumbo jumbo to cynical entrepreneurs. Many people used to have a similar belief about meditation, but now, millions of people have realized that meditation does have a plethora of benefits.
Similarly, one cannot deny that repeating affirmations daily has helped scores of people around the world to fix their self-esteem issues, correct negative thinking, and achieve a mind that is success-oriented.
Motivational gurus keep espousing the power and efficacy of affirmations. Yet, as with all things, this too must be taken with a pinch of salt.
- Do not knock it till you have tried it
Initially, it may seem strange standing in front of the mirror and repeating affirmations to yourself. But do not give up on the practice yet. Keep at it for 3 weeks and see how it makes you feel. Within 21 days, you should feel a difference. Most people do.
- Your affirmations must…
RESONATE with you! This is the key part of making affirmations work. Instead of just repeating affirmations that others have written, go ahead and write one for yourself.
Keep it brief and use the present tense. For example, if you are planning to quit your day job and start your own consulting business, you can repeat an affirmation such as, “I am making 25k a month with my successful consulting business!”
Now, this is an affirmation that will stir your emotion and light a fire inside you. However, if you merely repeat an affirmation given to you by a motivational guru such as, “I am worthy of good things”, your mind will be in conflict with the affirmations.
Worthy… You? Really? What are the good things? A vasectomy?
The affirmation holds no meaning to you and it’s pointless to repeat affirmations just for the sake of it.
- How do you practice affirmations?
All you need to do is stand in front of the mirror and repeat the affirmations for 3 to 5 minutes. While a mirror is not a requirement, it helps to keep you focused. You can even high-five yourself in the mirror when you’re done.
The 3-5 minutes is not a hard and fast rule. You only need to repeat the affirmations for as long as it takes to make you feel better. Sometimes when you are feeling down, repeating an affirmation 3 times might be more than enough to elevate your mood and pick you up.
There is no need to repeat affirmations ad nauseam. You are not doing Wiccan chants.
Keep your affirmations dynamic, short and specific. Focus on your breathing while repeating the affirmations. Always try to say your affirmations out loud. There is immense power in the spoken word. And hearing yourself repeatedly sears the words into your subconscious mind.
Make sure you ‘feel’ the affirmations when you say them. This is very similar to visualization when trying to make the law of attraction work. You need feelings and emotions behind the action. If not, you will just be an automaton going through the motions.
Neither the visualization nor the affirmations will work. Feel them working in you and through you.
- Action still is king
All that said and done, always remember this – affirmations, visualization, and other strategies that help make you feel better, are only one part of the equation – and not a very big part.
Ultimately, as Pablo Picasso said, “Action is the foundational key to all success.”
You could dispense with all affirmations and take massive action… and you will still see amazing results. Make no mistake about that.
However, using affirmations will give you an edge and help to lift your spirits up and increase your faith and belief in yourself. It will correct negative thinking and eliminate self-doubt. This can be priceless and help to accelerate your progress.
So, combine affirmations with visualization and take massive action to make your dreams a reality. If you persist, success will be yours.
