Q: What Are Positive Affirmations?

A: Positive affirmations are repetitive statements or phrases that are used to alter the conscious and subconscious mind. To create a positive affirmation, a person will write out a statement that they wish to be or become true. This statement could be the fulfillment of a dream or an accomplishment or another upgrade of ideas or circumstances.

A positive affirmation allows us to repeat a new idea in our heads so we come accustomed to the idea as our new truth. When we say a statement out loud or repeat it silently in the mind, our body and mind begin to believe the statement as true, even if it hasn’t happened yet. When we use positive affirmation, we can shift our self-talk and improve our self-awareness. We can use positive affirmations to get through a variety of difficult situations and scenarios.

Positive affirmations have been used in ancient traditions for thousands of years and are also known by the term mantra. Spiritual teachers have traditionally assigned mantras to students on the spiritual path to be repeated hundreds and thousands of times in devotion to various Gods.

In modern times, positive affirmation is a form of mantra used to treat ailments like depression, sadness, and anxiety and also to improve sleep, performance, and life satisfaction.

Q: What Are The Benefits Of Positive Affirmations?

A: There are many benefits to using positive affirmations to improve our lives. Positive affirmations can help us live as the best version of ourselves by improving our capability and our confidence. Positive affirmations can be used to make a good impression on others and to enhance our professionalism and our socialization.

We might tell ourselves that we are attracting the perfect partners in business or affirm that we are performing well at work and our boss is taking notice. We can affirm that we are acting with confidence and that we are prepared and smart and perfect for a particular job. Any affirmation of choice can be beneficial in boosting confidence in performance.

Additionally, affirmations can improve relationships with others, because as we become more confident, we free up space to be creative. Positive affirmations create an idea of success so we can be open to trying new things. When we are open to new ideas, we can begin to broaden our idea of possibilities and can experience fresh ideas and exciting outcomes.

Q: What Issues Can Positive Affirmations Address Or Be Used For?

A: Affirmations can also center on health and wellness and can lower stress levels. People who have a positive outlook on life are generally happier and tend to experience fewer issues with sleep, increased relaxation, and pain reduction. People with a negative mindset often experience pain and tension and repetitive depressive thought patterns.

Instead of getting caught up in negative emotions and spinning in cycles of sadness or stress, positive affirmations allow a way to change our outlook and take down destructive ideas and patterns.

Affirmations can lead to a more positive way of life by reducing chronic stress levels and easing anxiety. Positive affirmations remind us that we are capable of changing our mindset to one that can benefit us in any situation. It is our own responsibility to choose our thoughts and continue with the practice until we see and experience results.

When anxiety and stress threaten to overpower the practice, we need to remember that nothing needs to be perfect and that we are only available to show up and do our best each day and moment.

Q: How Do Positive Affirmations Work?

A: Positive affirmations work through repetition of a statement or phrase out loud, in the mind, or written on paper in an affirmation journal. One belief about positive affirmations is that the new idea that is introduced by affirmation replaces an older and more negative idea or mental script and replaces it with a more intentional idea. Consistent repetition allows the rewiring of the brain for new ideas. When we continue to send positive messages throughout our brains, we can begin to believe the stories we tell, even if they are not true. Because we believe our minds, we act out in life whatever our self-talk says in our mind. If we think negative thoughts about ourselves all day, we will begin to act accordingly and may not accomplish all we wish we could do.

Instead, we can continue to affirm that we are capable and confident and we can create a life that we are content with. Affirmations are also used to keep us focused and motivated and to keep our minds on track when we get distracted or overwhelmed. Using an affirmation can remind us of our mission and vision and serve to show us what we value.

Q: Do Positive Affirmations Really Work?

A: The key to the success of positive affirmations is to use the affirmation repeatedly until it becomes engrained in the mind. When creating an initial affirmation, some people like to take time to develop the perfect mantra or statement, while others have an insight and get an instant affirmation. Either way, repetition of the statement is essential to keep it in the mind. To begin, it may be best to write out the affirmation on a bunch of sticky notes or put them in places where they will be seen regularly.

Positive affirmations can be practiced anywhere and everywhere and with regularity, they can create a new mindset that is more beneficial for living one’s best life. Even when positive affirmations seem silly, we can remind ourselves that anything we do for our betterment is a positive choice for our physical and mental health.

We may not see immediate results and might seem silly repeating our affirmations to ourselves in the mirror each morning. But, with consistency, many people begin to experience change in their mindset which translates to positive change in their life. Affirmations are the first step to opening the mind to new opportunities that can create different and welcomed change in our lives.

Q: How To Get Started With Positive Affirmations?

A: The first step to getting started with positive affirmations is to create a statement or phrase to use as affirmation. If you have trouble, begin by choosing an area of your life you would like to improve or change.

To make it easy, let’s say you would like to get promoted at work or to be recognized by your boss for all of your hard work. By changing your mindset about the situation, you create an opening for your boss to act differently and create a space to receive a complement or other commentary from your boss that will guide you in your work.

So, you may create an affirmation like, “all my hard work is being recognized by my boss and I am being rewarded for my efforts.” For some people, this is a great affirmation, while other people may want to be more specific about what the reward will be or how they will be recognized by their boss.

You can be as detailed as possible if you only make sure the phrase is easy to remember and repeat. Repeat the mantra while driving, working, or silently anytime to remind the body and brain that you are in control of the situation and are capable of taking action in a new way.