By The Photographer – Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33793434
The question is often asked, if so many people claim that affirmations work for them, why do they not work for me?
Let’s face it, we live in a world of instant everything. So it is only natural that we would expect affirmations to give instant results.
Affirmations are NOT a magic pill
that you take once and all is well.
What are affirmations?
In his book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill uses another word for what is commonly called affirmations. He calls it “Auto-Suggestion” which is probably a more accurate word to use!
An affirmation is a carefully formated statement that is repeated to one’s self to suggest a different reality than is currently being experienced.
Generally an affirmation or auto-suggestion is a positive statement, however, it can also be negative in nature. The difference is in application.
When consciously applied, the statement of the different reality tends to be for a better condition than one finds themself in at the time.
When auto-suggestion is used un-consciously, the different reality could just as easily be a less favourable condition. It depends on the disposition of the individual.
A person who is optimistic will tend to see a more favourable (ie positive) condition, whereas someone who is pessimistic will see a less favourable (ie negative) outcome.
Why affirmations work.
To be effective, affirmations need to be a conscious and deliberate activity. This is because, whether we like it or not, we are constantly communicating with our inner being.
If we are naturally positive with high self-esteem, we will tend to have a positive conversation with ourself.
If we tend to be more negative and down on ourself, then the outcome will reflect that feeling. Unfortunately, a negative personality will tend to have more difficulty with speaking positive statements to themself, since it goes against their character.
How to write an affirmation.
Sometimes it is easier to recognize a condition in our life that we do not like. Rather than fight it, work with it!
Marco Arment via photopin cc
Recognize the condition and write it out — vent it fully. Describe it in detail.
After you have given expression to the unpleasant circumstance, it is time to decide if you want it to continue. If you do, that is fine.
But let’s assume that you do not want it to continue, the next decision is what would you rather have?
Just like you did with the unpleasant condition — write it out in full glory! As best you can describe it in detail!
If it was up to you,
meaning that you have full control and there are no limits,
what would the new condition look like!
Now that you have written out how you would like things to be, take a step back and savor the moment.
Try to tap into how you are feeling, this will be valuable to you as you use your affirmation.
The next step is to craft a very short statement with just a few words that capture the essence of what you have written.
I will suggest that you start your statement with the phrase
“I am so happy and grateful now that …“
A word of caution
As Napoleon Hill said in Think and Grow Rich, mere repetition of words
“is of no consequence — unless you mix emotion, or feeling, with your words. If you repeat a million times the famous Emil Coué formula, ‘Day by day, in every way, I am getting better and better,’ without mixing emotion and faith with your words, you will experience no desirable results. Your subconscious mind recognizes and acts upon only thoughts which have been well-mixed with emotion or feeling.”
How do affirmations work?
Affirmations do work. However, there is a price to be paid and that price is Persistence.
For your affirmation to be brought into reality, you have to feel it, you have to become emotionally involved with it.
Whether you believe your affirmation to be true or not does not matter — the belief will come.
It works on the same principle that if you repeat a lie often enough, you begin to believe it.
Your affirmation may feel like a lie when you first start out. Stick with it, and then be open to the little things that will start to happen to move you towards fulfilling your affirmation.
Please share your experience with using Affirmations in the comments below.