Sunday Serenities – I am Fulfilling my Purpose

Sunday Serenities – A New Affirmation to Start Your Week

Each week we will be sharing a new affirmation. The introductory information will remain the same, but if you are new to affirmations, please check out the first two sections on “What is an Affirmation?” and “How to Practice Your Affirmation.” If you regularly read our weekly article or already do affirmations, feel free to skip to the section titled “Read Today’s Affirmation.”

 

I wanted to share with you today a good book I just finished reading. It seems to go especially well with our affirmation today. It is The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. I think it will have a major impact on anyone who reads it

What is an Affirmation

Many have heard of affirmations, but if you haven’t tried them yet, you are missing out! Simply put, an affirmation is a statement you use to affirm yourself – you know, to say something positive. There are many different types, and as long as they are positive, there really is no wrong way to do an affirmation.

Affirmations can be a simple phrase, a list of related statements, or a focused paragraph. All of these work well depending on the situation you are working on, the time you have, and your intention – your intention being the most important part of the equation.

Do Affirmations Work?

According to an article by Catherine Moore, Psychologist, MBA in PositivePsychology.com “There is MRI evidence suggesting that certain neural pathways are increased when people practice self-affirmation tasks (Cascio et al., 2016). If you want to be super specific, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex—involved in positive valuation and self-related information processing—becomes more active when we consider our personal values (Falk et al., 2015; Cascio et al., 2016).

The results of a study by Falk and colleagues suggest that when we choose to practice positive affirmations, we’re better able to view “otherwise-threatening information as more self-relevant and valuable” (2015: 1979).”

So the bottom line is yes – affirmations work. It’s not a magic bullet. You do have put in the time and effort to practice them regularly. Do some research and find the affirmations that resonate with you, then begin to put them into practice. You can begin your search with the affirmation for today.

How to Practice Your Affirmation

Here is how to practice today’s affirmation. It is not original – but it is so good, I had to share (with permission of course and the promise to keep the originator anonymous). If you are comfortable with the idea, I like to recommend that people do this in front of a mirror. Read the affirmation a phrase at a time, then pause after each phrase. Take time to look yourself in the eye and then repeat the phrase back to yourself aloud. When you are finished with the affirmation, take time to breathe and reflect.

Finish your time by answering the self-reflection questions below. You can answer them any way you like, but I prefer to have a journal where I can have both my affirmations and the answers to my questions together. You may be surprised when you look back at them one day and discover the answers may be totally different.

Read Today’s Affirmation

I am fulfilling my purpose in life.

I know my place on this Earth and I am fulfilling my purpose. I believe that I was put here on Earth for a specific reason. I know that reason and do my best each day to live my life at the highest level.

I am confident that I know my reason for existing. Each day gives me the opportunity to be radiantly alive. I am grateful for the good fortune bestowed upon me.

I build my life around my purpose. Since I know my purpose, I find it easier to make decisions. My decisions and values align with my purpose perfectly. I choose my friends, hobbies, and employment to support my mission.

Everything I do and each person I meet is part of my journey. Everything and everyone that comes into my life does so for a purpose and provides a valuable lesson. I trust my instincts and take intelligent risks freely. I avoid waiting for opportunity to come to me.

I know the best way I can serve others. I show compassion to those around me and am thankful for the desire to serve others.

There is a plan and purpose to each person’s life. I respect the path and purpose of others. Everyone has value.

Today, I am feeling a deep sense of purpose from what I do. I am committed to living life at the highest level and helping others do the same. I am gratefully and willingly fulfilling my purpose in life.

Answer the Self-Reflection Questions:

1. How could I spend my day that would align with my values?

2. What is most important to me? What would allow me to feel fulfilled?

3. When do I feel most alive?

I hope you enjoyed this issue of Sunday Serenities. It is my mission to help provide you with the tools you need to have a more peaceful life so you can:

Find your purpose – Find your joy!