The use of affirmations can be a powerful tool in generating positive change in your life. The definition of an affirmation is to declare that something is true. Really all of our thoughts and words we say are examples of affirmations; they represent our inner thoughts and our belief system. However, these thoughts are not always positive, let alone accurate. Often these negative thoughts are the ones working against us. The practice of positive affirmations can be used to replace your negative thinking, and in turn declare something positive, powerful, and self-loving. People use affirmations for a variety of reasons: to decrease their negative thinking and increase their positive thinking, or individuals working on recovery from drug, alcohol, sex addiction, or trauma. People who are trying to accomplish goals like quitting smoking, freeing self from debt, or any other ways to achieve self improvement find affirmations helpful in accomplishing these goals.
There are many affirmations out there that you can use and are applicable to many. Such as “I am enough.” Or “I am worthy of love.” The advantage of creating your own affirmations is that they represent and communicate exactly what you need. There is an added layer of authenticity when you have taken the time to identify your emotional needs and inner thoughts, and then express them in your own style.
How to get started writing your positive affirmation
To begin, take your time and explore the areas of your life that you are hoping to improve, and decide what you want. To help you take inventory of where in your life affirmations are needed, here are a few ideas of categories: Health, Love, Addiction, Self-esteem, Peace and Joy, etc. Create about 3 positive affirmations for each category.
Be positive, and use positive language, even when you are trying to affirm stopping a bad habit. For example, you may want to say, “I don’t think or speak with a negative mindset.” You want to keep your mind away from associating with negative words like “not” “won’t” “avoid.” Instead, you want to shift the tone that takes on more positive, and holds more power: “I speak and think positively.” Words like “always,” gives the belief that you are consistent. Words like “my,” or “I,” indicate a sense of responsibility and ownership over the belief. These are good, powerful words to include. Remember, these are things you believe deep down you are capable of or deserve. Avoid futuristic language, write the affirmations as if the belief is already in motion and occurring. It’s similar to the idea “If you build it, they will come.” You need to believe it in order for the affirmation to be true.
With any goal-setting, or implementation of something new, it is recommended to make sure you are staying simple and feasible in what you are striving for. Focus on just one or two areas at a time. Such as self-esteem and love, or health and abundance. Avoid piling too many different categories, or heavy affirmations on at once. For example creating affirmations for weight-loss, earning more money to resolve debt, and abstaining from alcohol abuse are all very heavy goals that require a lot of time and effort. If you find yourself trying to pile too many different categories of affirmations on, remind yourself you are only one person, and commit yourself to just one or two areas. Limit yourself to about three affirmations at a time. For those of you who are struggling with a lot at once, a very helpful and relevant affirmation for you: “I live one day at a time.” This type of affirmation covers a lot of ground in just one simple sentence, and it also reminds you that you are only human, and can only take on so much at a time. The following are a few examples of different affirmations for different areas of your life.
Examples of positive affirmations for self-esteem
- I am enough.
- I speak and think positively.
- I accept all parts of myself.
Examples of Positive Affirmations for Love
- I love myself fully and completely.
- I am worthy and deserving of love.
- I treat myself with unconditional love.
Examples of Possitive Affirmations for Addiction
- I take one day at a time.
- I am responsible for my life.
- I am taking the next step for my healing.
Examples of Positive Affirmations for Health
- I respect and care for my body, and it cares for me.
- I am responsible for my health.
- I listen with love to my body’s messages.
Examples of Positive Affirmations for Joy and Peace
- I am a harmonious being.
- I am at the center of peace.
- I am full of joy and surround myself with joyful people.
Once fully constructed, make sure you have written your affirmations down on a piece of paper, keep them in your wallet, or tape them to your bathroom mirror, or a place that you will be reminded of your affirmations on a regular basis. Read your affirmations to yourself daily. The more repetitious you are with your affirmations, the more it will become your regular pattern. The pattern helps reinforce the change, and the repetition helps the belief become more real. The end goal of developing and reading your affirmations regularly is to reach a place of acceptance and reality of these affirmations. To reach a place where you do live your life as your authentic self with confidence, and you allow others in completely because of the love and respect you have for yourself.
