Telling yourself positive affirmations is pretty weird and extremely effective
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Standing in front of the mirror:
Is anyone at home?
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No.
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Good.
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Okay, let’s try one.
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“I show up and let myself being seen.”
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Giggles.
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Try one more!
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“I am good enough!”
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Smiling.
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Have you ever tried affirmations? These positive sentences you are supposed to tell yourself? Are you suspicious they are simply another weird self-help gimmick!? Or, similar to me, you just have a hard time taking yourself seriously while saying good stuff about yourself?
And then, how often do I catch myself thinking:
“That was stupid.” • “I probably don’t have what it takes.” • “I’m too naive.” • “I don’t know anything.”
So, in any case, we are talking to ourselves. Unfortunately, more often in a negative and unproductive way.
It’s time to change that. And yes, it feels awkward at first.
It might help you to know that several studies have proven the positive effect of affirmations.
If you’re interested you can read this one, published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.
Thirdspace London summarizes the effect of affirmations quite neatly:
[the] magic of affirmations is that they hijack […] cognitive biases for your own benefit. They teach your brain a new way to think about the world. If you repeat phrases to convince your brain that you’ll get the job or achieve that target healthy weight, then your brain starts to subconsciously search for signs that will make this true. When it does, the brain will then present the sign to the conscious mind. All of a sudden you’ll begin noticing points and proofs that’ll help you to achieve your goals. The affirmations just need time to help your brain tune into the good stuff.
So, let’s go and challenge ourselves for the next 7 days…
- Choose a sentence for yourself.
- Make it specific to you, your situation, and what you want.
- Stand in front of your mirror.
- Say it out loud.
- Maybe, giggle a bit. Feel awkward. Get over it.
- Say it again.
- Say it louder.
- Repeat.
- See what it does to you.
Let me know how it went at carolin @ freedomxx.com