Sunday Serenities – A New Affirmation to Start Your Week

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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.”  

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

On stormy days, I revel in the sustenance of the rain.

When the clouds roll in, others talk of gloom. I see the silver lining. Clouds bring rain, and rain sustains life.

The darkest clouds are the densest. I am excited by the downpour, because I know that somewhere, a stream or a lake is being filled. Dirt is being washed away. Plants and animals are being nourished. Heavy deluges can cause flooding, but it is only temporary.

As the rain lightens and the clouds begin to break, I consider what can be accomplished when the raining concludes. I search the sky beyond the walls of my home, and sometimes I find a rainbow.

Other times, I observe beams of light breaking through the cloudscape, providing the plants with further nourishment.

In my life, I recognize the need for events like rain.

Occasionally, I need the dirt washed away. Like a plant, I require a refreshing downpour. Sure, the clouds above me appear ominous, but I know they bring sustenance.

I weather every storm-at work and at home-with an optimistic perspective. The storm always passes.

Today, I help others see the bright side of an impending storm in their lives. My ability to find the good within the gloom, and envision the value that a storm brings, can help others to discover the positive elements that can occur with the storm.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. What is the worst ‘storm’ that I have weathered and survived?

2. Is it always possible to find positive elements within a destructive or undesirable event?

3. What is the most productive way to weather the storms of life?

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!

Would you like copy of Improve Your Mindset? Just click on the link – it’s my gift to you.

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.

You can also connect with me via –

Email: info@SerenitiesNow.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sue.pine.92 or on Instagram: @sue.pine.serenities.now


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Sunday Serenities – A New Affirmation to Start Your Week

by

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.”

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

My blessings are innumerable.

I receive countless blessings each day. When I stop to consider my highpoints in life, I am in awe by them. My list of successes far exceeds any negative occurrences in my life.

Having basic abilities is a blessing that many take for granted. My healthy body and mind allow me to accomplish important things each day. I make the most of my time and am thankful when I am able to achieve daily tasks and goals.

My hard work results in recognition from my employer, my friends, and my family. Although my efforts are what lead to success, I still recognize the acknowledgement as a blessing .

Whenever I feel the urge to complain or express disappointment, I remind myself that I am blessed. Even when I am in the midst of a trial, I pause and think about all the benefits of life that I enjoy.

I find blessings in the most unexpected places. When I stare into the eyes of a hungry child, I am thankful for the chance to offer a meal.  When I see a lonely senior, I am thankful to be able to offer a hug or some conversation.

That chance to help someone is a blessing in itself. It is an exercise in humility that helps me to be appreciative. I enjoy learning helpful life lessons.

Today, I am thrilled about all the blessings I experience each day. I am a firm believer in finding the good in each situation. I continue to give thanks for all the positive things that life throws my way.

Answer the Self-Reflection Questions:

1. How do I correct my behavior when I find myself complaining?

2. What inspires positive change in my life?

3. How do I turn a negative situation into a positive one?

 

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!

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