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
I can sit back and view all the wondrous things life has to offer me.
When I look at life, I see the many incredible things it can bring me. I am full of energy and enthused because I see hope, and hope keeps me excited about new possibilities.
I aspire to become more than my previous generation because there are so many opportunities available to me that they did not have.
I am confident about my future. I let my imagination flow and it creates a passion inside me.
I wait with anticipation for my actions to result in the things I desire. I love the feeling of security it gives me and I am excited to go on.
There are no guarantees, but as long as I am breathing, the possibilities are endless. I envision my destination and enjoy the journey life has thrown my way.
Life contains many twists and turns. There may be bumps in the road, but joy is my reward when I know my destination and follow the path.
I am elated and amused at the amazing road ahead. What is around the corner may be a mystery, but I know that it is something good.
I plant seeds of positivity because I know that soon the harvest will arrive and I will reap the benefits.
Answer the Self-Reflection Questions:
How will I take advantage of opportunities that I see?
What can I do to maximize my potential?
Do I wait with fear or enthusiasm for what I will find around the corner?
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.
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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.