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 positive attitude creates positive results.
My attitude shapes my experiences. When I think positive, I invite more happiness and success into my life. I radiate enthusiasm. I wear a smile and compliment strangers.
When they no longer serve my best interest, I change my old patterns and move forward.
I take a first step. I change one habit at a time. I set goals that are challenging and realistic.
If I want to advance my career, I sign up for extra training instead of feeling stymied by office politics. If I am concerned about my child’s development, I talk with people I know and trust to help me identify practical solutions instead of assuming something catastrophic.
I encourage myself through my self-talk. I know that my words are powerful. I speak to myself with kindness and compassion.
I reach out for support. I let my family and friends know how they can help me to stay on track. Knowing that I am loved and appreciated helps me to keep minor irritations in perspective.
I prepare for setbacks. If I become cranky or blue, I look for the underlying causes. I figure out my triggers so I can develop healthier reactions.
I draw upon my faith. Connecting with my Creator reminds me of my ultimate purpose. Feeding my spirit helps me to feel more motivated and powerful.
Today, I choose to have a sunny outlook. A positive attitude allows me to overcome obstacles and achieve my full potential.
Answer the Self-Reflection Questions:
1. How does my attitude shape the way I look at the world?
2. What 3 words would I use to describe my current attitude?
3. How does positive thinking reduce stress?
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
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