Why Do Some Affirmations Work?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Why Do Some Affirmations Work?
2
Mon, 12-08-2003 - 8:22am
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Column By Jeff Staniforth
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"Why Do Some Affirmations Work - and Others Don't?"

Learn How Affirmations Can Enhance Your Spiritual Life!

By definition, an affirmation is a statement repeated time
and again either verbally or mentally -- or written down.
The words of the affirmation statement - in themselves -when
spoken, thought of, or written without a pictorial
(visualized) or emotional connection -- make a very weak
affirmation.

Affirmations, when worded correctly -- and when emotionally
charged - are able to tap into the unlimited creative power
of your subconscious mind, and manifest your desires.

Affirmations are not all created equal. Some are, of course,
better than others. There are power affirmations that have
been proven again and again to work - and I'll reveal some
of them in a moment.

When you examine the structure of these power affirmations,
you, too, can learn how to create your own powerful
affirmations for your specific purposes.

Consider the following sample affirmations:


* I am what I choose to be
* All my needs are met instantaneously
* I love and accept myself exactly as I am
* comes to me easily and effortlessly
(Fill in the blank with what you desire.)
* I am now perfectly healthy in body, mind and spirit
* I now create my wonderful, ideal life

What do the above power affirmations have in common?

1) They're stated in the present tense. An affirmation is
more effective when stated in the present tense. For
example; "I now have a wonderful job." Avoid affirming
something in the future tense, e.g. "I am going to have a
wonderful job" or the results will always be waiting to
happen.

2) They express a positive statement. Affirmations need to
be stated in the most positive terms possible. Avoid
negative statements. Affirm what you do want, rather than
what you don't want. For example: "I am no longer sick."
This is a negative statement. Instead, affirm: "I am
now perfectly healthy in body, mind and spirit."

This statement is much more powerful as it is positive and
reinforces your desired goal and doesn't confuse your
subconscious mind with the mention of the undesirable
condition.

3) They're short and specific. Short affirmations are easy
to say, and have a far greater impact at the subconscious
level than those which are long and wordy. Keeping them
specific and to the point adds power as the idea is
uncluttered by extraneous elements.

The mechanics that make affirmations powerful are:

* Repetition - The importance of repetition cannot be
overemphasized. It imprints the affirmation into your
subconscious mind.

* Emotions - Get involved, be passionate, and use your
emotions. Think carefully about the meaning of the words as
you repeat them rather than just writing, typing or saying
them.

* Persistence - Practicing affirmations with persistence
achieves results much sooner than practicing them
periodically. Successive sessions will have a compounding
effect.

* Belief - You don't necessarily have to believe your
affirmation initially, in order for it to work. Belief will
grow with your forthcoming successes. What you do need is
the ability to feel what it would be like when the desire
you're affirming is fulfilled, or your need met.

Every time that you have a need -- and that need is met -- a
certain "feeling" is produced in you. You need to evoke that
same feeling when you state your affirmation. In other
words, you need to feel with every fiber of your being that
what you desire has already happened. Without this feeling,
your affirmation is powerless.

* Impress Yourself - Personalize your affirmations. They
must resonate with you -- feel right for you. The stronger
your connection with the affirmation, the deeper the
impression it makes on your mind, and the sooner you will
experience positive results.

So there you have it - the simple formula for creating
affirmations that work. Based on the above, you can easily
create your own affirmations to manifest any desire or need
you have in life.

TIP: Although the practice of affirmations is easy, some
people find it challenging to repeat the affirmations
continuously while maintaining the highly charged emotional
state necessary in making affirmations work.

Live With Passion!


Phyllis

Live With Passion!

Phyllis

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 12-08-2003 - 11:00am
Thanks for an excellent article! I'm printing it out in hopes that I can do better.

Rhonda


Time invested in improving ourselves cuts down on time disapproving of others.

       ~~Rhonda~~


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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2001
Mon, 12-08-2003 - 5:42pm
Great post, I made a copy for my journal.Thanks!!

Miss P