Introduction
Are you looking for a way to get motivated or to find the self-confidence to do something you really want to achieve? How about being more positive and not letting life get you down or letting the world’s distractions make you crazy and unfocused? You can eliminate bad thoughts and restructure how your mind works, with positive affirmations. You can get focused and turn your attention to more positive avenues in life. You can achieve anything you set your mind to achieve with the help of positive affirmations. Many famous sports athletes, actors, writers, and more, use this technique to achieve their goals.
You have probably heard of positive affirmations, but do you know how they work and how to use them? I’m going to break it down here and tell you exactly why and how to do so that you can be on your way to a better life for yourself, your family, and your friends..
Positive Affirmations Explained
It’s all about mindset. Your brain is wired to respond to all the thoughts and beliefs that are from past experiences and daily here and now, running through it. Some of these thoughts are running automatically and you aren’t even aware they are there. For example: do you sometimes hear your mother or your father say something in your mind? I will hear my Dad say “Check the oil in your car!” He did this for my safety and protection of course, but I still hear him saying it, in my mind. Some thoughts may be running in the background silently and automatically, and you don’t know they are working against you.
You’ve learned these thoughts over your lifetime and they can be good, bad, helpful, or not. To eliminate bad thoughts, especially those that are automatic, we need to rewire our brains to automatically run good and helpful thoughts. That’s where positive affirmations can and do help if used correctly. This is the intentional reprogramming of your mindset.
The way your brain remembers these thoughts is called neural pathways. They are tiny electrical impulses that your mind has put in place by past events and experiences. New neural pathways can be created by you to automatically think in a structured helpful way. For example, you can boost your self-confidence, be more disciplined, have a positive mindset, and improve your self-image.
How can we create new neural pathways or thoughts in our brains? By repetition. Over time, repeating positive affirmations can make those thoughts and beliefs automatic. So you want to replace negative thought patterns with new positive ones. Even if you don’t know you have negative thought patterns, you can rewire your brain for positive thought patterns through the use of repetitive positive affirmations.
Other benefits of positive affirmations can include reducing stress, anxiety, Self-doubt, depression, and other challenges in life. Scientific research has proven that using positive affirmations can be very helpful in overcoming negative, harmful thought patterns. A positive, healthy mindset will allow you to successfully reach your goals. For further research into scientific study see the sites referenced at the end of this article.
Effective Affirmations
“Affirmations are like seed planted in soil. Poor soil, poor growth. Rich soil, abundant growth. The more you choose to think thoughts that make you feel good, the more you will attract the positive circumstances that you desire.”
– Wayne Dyer, American Psychologist
Be specific in the goals you want to achieve or challenges you want to overcome. Do you want to win at your favorite sport, or do you want to get a degree? Do you want to be more positive in your relationships or be more grateful? Do you want abundance or to be more spiritual? What is important to you and be very clear. As Tony Robbins says, “Know your why?” Ask questions of yourself and be clear about what you really want to achieve. Then craft your positive affirmations.
How to structure: The 4 P’s (Present-tense, Personal, Positive, Powerful) Rinse and Repeat
Once you’ve determined exactly what your goal is and have a reason why, you should begin structuring your positive affirmations intentionally. The affirmations should be in the present tense, personal, positive, and powerful. There are many already formed positive affirmations that you can find on the web, just make sure they pertain to your goal and have the “4-P” structure. Start with the end in mind.
Let’s break down the structure. Create affirmations that are meaningful and personal to you. Be specific and use powerful words. For example “I am grateful”. Never use negative words like “I’m not”, “evil”, “poor”, or anything that has to do with a lack of mindset. Use positive words like “I am” and “positive”, or “Abundant”.
Make them achievable by starting with just a few affirmations. When you have a few powerful and positive affirmations that are specific to your goal, in the present tense, your mind can believe them over time. In a matter of a couple of weeks in many cases.
Repeat your specific positive affirmations regularly. The key is consistency. Set up a time each day when you practice them. Have notes in certain places like the bathroom mirror, where you will be reminded to repeat your affirmations. Do them out loud if possible, while exercising or doing yoga. Repeat them to yourself just before bed or in the morning first thing when you wake up.
Another way to experience your positive affirmations is by listening to them daily. Record and listen to yourself repeat them over and over with belief. Believe in yourself! Believe in the power of your mind!
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
– Marcus Aurelius
Examples of People using positive affirmation for success:
1. Valarie Allman, Olympic Discus Gold Medalist:
The search results quote Allman using affirmations like “I am capable of winning. I deserve to win. I will win.”[4] These affirmations helped boost her self-belief and focus her mindset on achieving victory, even in the high-pressure environment of the Olympics.
2. Stephen Curry, NBA Star:
The search results mention that Curry is known for his pre-game ritual of repeating affirmations to himself, such as “I am a champion” and “I am unstoppable.”[2] These affirmations help cultivate the confidence and mental toughness he needs to excel on the basketball court.
3. Louise Hay, Self-Help Author:
The search results highlight how Louise Hay used affirmations to heal herself from cervical cancer after refusing conventional treatment. [2] She developed a system of affirmations targeting specific physical and emotional issues, which she then shared with others to help them heal as well.
4. Dr. Bernie Siegel, Physician and Author:
As a surgeon working with terminally ill patients, Dr. Siegel discovered the power of affirmations and positive thinking in healing. [2] He found that many of his patients attributed their illnesses to a lack of self-love and self-acceptance, which he then addressed through affirmation-based practices.
5. Napoleon Hill, Author of “Think and Grow Rich”:
The search results identify Napoleon Hill as the “modern father of positive thought and affirmations.”[2] His famous book details how successful individuals he interviewed used goal-setting, visualization, and affirmations to achieve their dreams, especially in the realm of wealth and prosperity.
Conclusion
Negative self-talk is the reason many of us do not reach our goals and have compromising behaviors. Positive affirmations can rewire our brains, eliminate bad thoughts, and greatly improve our mindset to achieve our wildest dreams. You can achieve anything you set out to do by changing your mindset. Design affirmations that are positive and specific to you. Repeat them hourly, or daily and set reminders to do so. Before long you will begin to notice you are on your path to achieving your goals and you too can become “unstoppable”, as Tony Robbins says.
I truly believe in creating the mindset you need to achieve your goals. I have used it throughout my life and continue to do so today. I am now creating affirmation recordings in my voice to use quietly while I sleep. I am in the process of making these recordings and will post them on my YouTube channel. Look for them at https://www.youtube.com/@MiraculousMessages/.
Happy Mindset,
Sherrie Haddox (Author, Editor, Publisher, Designer & Artist)
https://miraculousmessages.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@MiraculousMessages/
References
Sharot, T., Korn, C. W., & Dolan, R. J. (2011). How unrealistic optimism is maintained in the face of reality. Nature neuroscience, 14(11), 1475-1479.
Schmeichel, B. J., & Vohs, K. (2009). Self-affirmation and self-control: affirming core values counteracts ego depletion. Journal of personality and social psychology, 96(4), 770.
Affirmations.online. (n.d.). Positive Affirmations. Retrieved from https://www.affirmations.online/
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. Macmillan.
Allman, V. (2021, August 3). Valarie Allman Wins Gold in Women’s Discus Throw. Team USA. https://www.teamusa.org/News/2021/August/03/Valarie-Allman-Wins-Gold-In-Womens-Discus-Throw
https://www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/the-science-of-affirmations/
https://positivepsychology.com/daily-affirmations/
Books:
– “Growing Up Again: Parenting Ourselves, Parenting Our Children” by Jean I. Clarke
– “Taming Your Gremlin” by Richard Carson
Citations:
[1] https://blog.cherischultz.com/25-affirmations-for-overcoming-challenges/
[2] https://www.universalclass.com/articles/spirituality/the-use-of-affirmations-throughout-history.htm
[3] https://voice.ons.org/news-and-views/self-affirmations-build-your-personal-and-moral-resiliency
[4] https://www.affirmations.online/affirmations-for-strength-to-overcome-obstacles-25-examples/
[5] http://www.self-esteem-experts.com/positive_thinking_quotes.html
