Recently I’ve published a couple of blog posts about taking small steps or making small changes. These affirmations are particularly relevant to those topics. I hope you enjoy them!
Each week we share 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.”
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 take small steps in life and appreciate the time I have.
Life is not a race. I can take the time to appreciate everything around me and be fully present in each moment.
I rejoice each day, whether sunny or cloudy, because this day is mine and I enjoy just being present.
The morning breeze and the smell of brewing coffee sing sweet songs to my senses. I fully enjoy the fresh feeling I have as I take my morning shower; the water washing over my body feels satisfying. I am in no rush.
I prepare for the day and take the time to enjoy the process even if it is the same routine as many times before. Today is different in subtle ways.
Each day as I settle in for the evening, I reflect on my day with a happy mindset.
I am fully present in my day, and I choose not to rush through any part of it. I recognize the slight differences in this day and appreciate each moment.
I take the time to reflect daily, and I enjoy re-living the beauty of the day. Each day is a joy, so I celebrate the good times and appreciate life’s lessons as they unravel.
Answer the Self-Reflection Questions:
Have I been fully present in my day?
Have I taken the time to notice the subtle differences in the day?
Have I taken the time to reflect on my day?
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:
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Did you find a few more ideas of your own? If so, I’d love to hear about them in the comments, and as always please reach out with your thoughts.
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Email: info@SerenitiesNow.com
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Serenities Now LLC is a holistic health practice that will help you find the tools you need to bring calm to your chaos, take back your control, and break through your barriers, so you can become your best self ever.